SUPPORT FOR THE SYSTEMS, OBJECTION TO THE FUNDING MODEL

The African Airlines Association, the Airlines Association of Southern Africa and the International Air Transport Association have jointly urged African States to implement Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record systems in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization standards and global best practices. API and PNR systems provide governments with passenger information ahead of travel, supporting border security, law enforcement and the movement of legitimate travellers.

The substance of the intervention, however, lies in its second element. The three organisations urged governments not to fund national API and PNR border security programmes through charges imposed on airlines or passengers. They cite ICAO’s Policies on Charges for Airports and Air Navigation Services, Doc 9082, which states that border security is a government responsibility and that related costs — including those associated with API and PNR programmes — should be funded by governments rather than by airlines or passengers. The organisations argue that imposing such fees increases the cost of travel, undermines connectivity and weakens the economic benefits aviation generates through tourism, trade and investment.

THE FOUR PRINCIPLES

The joint statement sets out four requirements for implementation. On legality, States should establish a clear legal framework aligned with international API and PNR standards, including applicable bilateral or regional agreements, defining the required data and designating a single responsible authority. On proportionality, only data necessary for the intended purpose should be collected, in line with the Guidelines on Advance Passenger Information adopted by the World Customs Organization, IATA and ICAO, and the ICAO Guidelines on Passenger Name Record Data — with data retained for a defined period and risk assessment measures including safeguards against discrimination.

On purpose, collected information should be used only for legitimate reasons such as border control, security, law enforcement and the prevention of serious crimes. On consistency and accuracy, harmonised global formats should be followed for data collection, with data stored and transferred securely. The emphasis on a single responsible authority and on harmonised formats addresses a practical operating problem: where individual States adopt divergent data specifications, transmission protocols or authorities, airlines operating across multiple African jurisdictions must build and maintain separate compliance arrangements for each — a cost that scales with the number of countries served and falls disproportionately on carriers operating dense intra-African networks.

A JOINT STATEMENT FROM THREE BODIES

The statement was issued jointly by Abdérahmane Berthé, Secretary General of AFRAA; Aaron Munetsi, Chief Executive of AASA; and Kamil Alawadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East. They said the organisations supported the implementation of API and PNR data transfer and recognised the important role passenger data plays in keeping borders secure, but that these systems must be aligned around internationally recognised standards and funded correctly. They said a consistent approach with governments and industry working together improved security outcomes, made travel more seamless, safeguarded personal data and avoided unnecessary costs and complexity, and that the three bodies remained committed to working with governments, regional institutions and international partners as Africa continues to strengthen air connectivity.

AFRAA was founded in Accra in April 1968 and is headquartered in Nairobi, with members representing over 85% of total international traffic carried by African airlines. AASA was established in 1970 and advocates for airlines in the Southern African Development Community, with 16 airline members and 41 associate members. IATA represents over 370 airlines accounting for approximately 85% of global air traffic.