The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) urged African States to implement Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and global best practices, said IATA press note.
IATA represents over 370 airlines accounting for some 85% of global air traffic. The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) is the leading trade association of African airlines. The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) is the representative airline body mandated to advocate for the interests of airlines in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
API and PNR systems provide governments with passenger information ahead of travel, helping to strengthen border security, support law enforcement efforts, and facilitate the movement of legitimate travelers, the release added.
It is essential, however, that African States implementing API and PNR do so in alignment with internationally agreed standards, supported by clear legal and operational frameworks that includes Legality, Proportionality, Purpose and Consistency and Accuracy.
The organizations also urged governments not to fund API and PNR national border security programs through charges imposed on airlines and/or passengers. it said.
ICAO’s Policies on Charges for Airports and Air Navigation Services (Doc 9082) make clear that border security is a government responsibility and that related costs, including those associated with API and PNR programs, should be funded by governments rather than airlines or passengers.
Imposing API and PNR fees on airlines to fund government border security programs increases the cost of travel, undermines connectivity, and weakens the economic benefits that aviation generates through tourism, trade, and investment, added more.
