EU Agreement on Airline Passenger Data Regulations

On Friday, March 1, 2024, negotiators from the EU Council and the European Parliament reached a preliminary agreement on regulations concerning airline passenger data.

The new regulations aim to streamline the processing of data from Advance Passenger Information (API) for passenger control at EU borders and in the fight against terrorism and serious crime.

Advance Passenger Information (API) includes identification and flight information, which will be provided to authorities at the arrival and departure locations.

The regulations specify what data airlines must collect and transmit, encompassing passenger, flight, seating, and baggage information.

The collection of API data primarily applies to flights from outside the EU, although member states may also include intra-EU flights in case of terrorist threats.

Thanks to the new provisions, law enforcement agencies will be able to link API data with Passenger Name Record (PNR) data, enabling more effective identification of high-risk travelers.

Border authorities will benefit from a fuller picture of travelers, allowing them to better manage border controls and prevent unauthorized border crossings.

Airlines will be required to collect API data in an automated manner, with the option of manual collection if automated collection is not feasible due to technical limitations.

The launch of a central router by the EU agency will streamline data transmission, reducing costs and the risk of errors and abuses.

The implementation of these changes aims to enhance border security, improve efficiency, and reduce data transmission costs.