Anti-terrorism concerns fail to sway Strasbourg parliament
The European Parliament voted on 31 March against compliance with US proposals that airlines should supply advance passenger information (API) for anti-terrorism reasons. The decision comes amid escalating tensions over API as carriers complain authorities have failed to consult them properly on its introduction.
Spain, proposing API as a measure to curb illegal immigration into the European Union, continues to press for inbound airlines to provide data. Portugal is also demanding API during the 10 June-6 July Euro 2004 football tournament to help the police identify potential troublemakers.
The Parliament decision calling for renegotiation of API for flights to the USA - passed by 229 votes to 202 - was argued mainly on civil liberties grounds, and is expected to influence the European Commission which had already negotiated a provisional deal. The Commission had proposed giving the USA less than it wanted, but may allow US security agencies access to about 34 individual passenger details drawn from airline booking computers. Airlines protest that they have no right to provide private information. But British Airways is now asking US-bound passengers booking online to enter their name, gender, passport number, nationality, date of birth and contact phone number in the USA.
Rejection of the Spanish push for airlines to provide API has been recommended by the Parliament Transport Committee and Citizens' Rights Committee. Europe's International Air Carrier Association (IACA), representing the charter and leisure carrier market sector, says that the rule is particularly objectionable for EU citizens, and claims "most illegal immigrants do not arrive by air".
The API proposals are also ill thought-out, says IACA, including a demand that airlines must advise the immigration authorities if passengers do not use the return portion of their tickets.
The Portuguese demand is in the process of being scaled down, but only after IACA had threatened a boycott of flights likely to carry many of the 500,000 visitors that the football championship is expected to generate.
AIR TRANSPORT DAVID LEARMOUNT / LONDON
Source: Flight International
