African and global aviation industry groups have jointly called on African countries to implement Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems, to reinforce border security, augment law enforcement and ease the movement of legitimate travellers. These systems made that possible by supplying the relevant authorities with passenger information before they travelled. The industry bodies concerned were the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

They cautioned that API and PNR systems should be implemented in accordance with the standards and global best practices of the intergovernmental International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

“We support the implementation of [API] and [PNR] data transfer and recognise the important role passenger data plays in keeping borders secure,” stated AFRAA Secretary General Abdérahmane Berthé, AASA CEO Aaron Munetsi, and IATA Regional VP Africa and the Middle East Kamil Alawadhi in a joint statement. “However, these systems must be aligned around internationally recognised standards and funded correctly. 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.”

Thus, the three associations urged African States to create legal frameworks for API and PNR that were in line with the international standards for these systems, including relevant regional or bilateral agreements. These frameworks should designate a single responsible authority and define the data required.

Further, the authorities should only collect the data needed for the intended purpose, and that data should only be kept for a specified period, while risk assessment procedures should include anti-discrimination safeguards. These measures were aligned with the API Guidelines adopted by ICAO, the World Customs Organisation and IATA, and the ICAO Guidelines on PNR data.

The data should only be collected for the purposes of border control, security, law enforcement and the prevention of serious crimes. The collection, transfer and storage of data should follow harmonised global formats, to ensure security.

As border control was a State responsibility, States should fund the implementation of API and PNR. The costs should not be passed on to airlines and passengers. ICAO made this principle clear in its Document 9082, “Policies on Charges for Airports and Air Navigation Services”.

“As Africa continues to strengthen air connectivity, AFRAA, AASA, and IATA remain committed to working with governments, regional institutions, and international partners to support the successful implementation of passenger data programmes that enhance while enabling safe, efficient, and affordable air transport,” assured Berthé, Munetsi, and Alawadhi.