African airlines and major aviation industry associations have rejected attempts to make airlines and passengers pay additional charges for government-run Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record systems, insisting that border security remains the responsibility of governments.
The African Airlines Association, Airlines Association of Southern Africa and International Air Transport Association said they support the deployment of API and PNR systems across Africa, but warned against transferring the cost of such programmes to airlines or travellers.
In a joint statement signed by AFRAA Secretary-General, Abdérahmane Berthé; AASA Chief Executive Officer, Aaron Munetsi; and IATA Regional Vice President, Africa and Middle East, Kamil Alawadhi, the aviation bodies said governments should fund the systems as part of their border-security responsibilities.
What API and PNR systems do
Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record systems allow governments to receive passenger information before travellers arrive in or depart from a country.
The data can assist authorities with border control, law enforcement and the identification of potential security risks, while also helping facilitate the movement of legitimate travellers.
However, the aviation associations warned that the security benefits could be undermined if African countries introduce poorly coordinated systems or impose additional financial burdens on airlines and passengers.
Airlines reject additional charges
The three aviation bodies particularly opposed the use of airline and passenger charges to finance national API and PNR programmes.
They argued that the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Policies on Charges for Airports and Air Navigation Services, contained in Doc 9082, recognise border security as a government responsibility.
According to the associations, the costs associated with border-security measures, including API and PNR systems, should therefore be borne by governments.
They warned that transferring the cost to airlines and passengers would ultimately increase the price of air travel, weaken connectivity and threaten the wider economic benefits generated by aviation through tourism, trade and investment.
For an industry seeking to make air travel more accessible across Africa, the associations said additional charges could have consequences beyond simply increasing the cost of airline tickets.
Airlines demand clear rules before deployment
The aviation bodies called on governments implementing API and PNR systems to establish clear legal and operational frameworks before deployment.
They also urged countries to ensure that their national programmes comply with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and other internationally recognised practices.
According to the associations, four key principles should guide the systems: legality, proportionality, purpose limitation, and consistency and accuracy.
On legality, they said governments must establish clear laws governing the collection, processing and transfer of passenger data in line with international API and PNR standards, as well as applicable bilateral and regional agreements.
On proportionality, the associations said authorities should collect only information genuinely required for the stated purpose.
They also warned against indefinite retention of passenger information, calling for clearly defined data-retention periods and safeguards in risk-assessment processes to prevent discrimination.
Data use must be limited
The associations maintained that information collected through API and PNR programmes should only be used for legitimate purposes, including border control, national security, law enforcement and the prevention of serious crimes.
They also urged governments to prioritise accuracy and consistency in the collection, processing, storage and transmission of passenger information.
Countries, they said, should adopt harmonised global data formats and strong safeguards to protect personal information.
Industry supports passenger-data systems
The aviation organisations stressed that their objection was not to passenger-data systems themselves but to approaches that create unnecessary costs, inconsistent requirements and additional burdens for airlines and travellers.
The organisations said, “We support the implementation of Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record data transfer and recognise the important role passenger data plays in keeping borders secure.”
They added, “However, these systems must be aligned around internationally recognised standards and funded correctly.”
The associations said closer coordination between governments and the aviation industry would improve security without making international travel unnecessarily complicated or expensive.
“A consistent approach, with governments and industry working together, improves security outcomes, makes travel more seamless, safeguards personal data, and avoids unnecessary costs and complexity,” they added.
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