ETA or Estimated Time of Arrival refers to the expected time at which a flight will arrive at the airport.
ETA may be shown in your flight booking, flight status, or other travel information. For example, in the boarding pass shown in the image below, you can see 15:50 under the “Arrives” column. This indicates the expected arrival time of the flight at the destination airport.
Is Knowing ETA Important for Travellers?
Yes, knowing the expected arrival time is important for travellers because it helps them plan their journey.
For example, if you are travelling to another destination after landing, you need to consider the time required for:
- Collecting your checked baggage
- Leaving the airport
- Reaching the airport exit
- Taking a taxi, metro, bus or other transport
- Travelling to your next destination
However, the arrival time shown in your booking is not a guaranteed arrival time. The actual arrival time may change because of factors such as the flight’s departure time, weather, air traffic, and other operational or technical conditions.
Therefore, travellers should keep some extra time when planning their journey after reaching the airport.
