Passenger screening plan a ‘nightmare’, say airlines

European airlines have lashed out at an EU counter-terrorism proposal which would force them to share private passenger data, such as passport numbers and credit card details, with European security agencies.

According to the Association of European Airlines (AEA), a Commission plan to set up a European ‘Passenger Name Record’ scheme to prevent terrorist attacks would be “an operational and technical nightmare” for airlines. 

The plan, presented by the EU executive on 6 November, would make it mandatory for all planes flying to and from the EU to transmit 19 pieces of personal data on each of their passengers – including names, travel dates, full itinerary, billing data and baggage information – to designated analysis units in charge of assessing travellers’ terrorist risk in the first EU state where the plane is to land (EURACTIV 7/11/07). 

Airlines refusing to provide the requested data before take-off would be threatened with the withdrawal of their landing authorisation. 

Despite assurances from the Commission that the proposal would not put any extra burden on airlines – because they already have all the information and are already required to communicate passport data to member states’ competent authorities in order to fight illegal immigration – the AEA says the proposal fails to take account of the practical consequences for both European carriers and their passengers. 

The main source of concern is that the EU PNR would rely on national authorities in each member state to collect the information, rather than a central European agency. 

AEA Secretary General Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus commented: “Commissioner Frattini’s proposed decentralised system means that our carriers will have to comply with 27 different national data collection systems. We are talking about an operational and technical nightmare – and the Commission totally ignores the financial implications for the airline industry.” 

He said that having a single point of contact between European carriers and the authorities who will conduct the analysis of their passengers’ profiles was “crucial”. 

However, Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini has said that he thinks it is “premature” to have a central system for collecting information and, especially, for analysing it – although he noted that maybe one day Europol could take over this function. In the meantime, he said, he preferred to put his trust in the member states, whose analytical capacities have already been tested. 

The AEA also called for the PNR system to be applied to all modes of transport, so as to avoid discrimination and competitive distortions.

Read more with Euractiv

EU seeks access to private passenger data to combat terrorism

The Commission wants all airlines flying to and from the EU to share private data on their passengers, such as passport numbers and credit card details, with Europe's secret services. While it claims this will help in the fight against terrorism, others fear it will endanger our fundamental right to privacy.