Air Malta has agreed with the Association of European Airlines that plans by the European Commission in its latest anti-terrorism package are an “operational and technical nightmare”.
If the proposals, presented recently by Commissioner Franco Frattini, see the light of day they will impose a raft of heavy data collection and transmission requirements on Air Malta and other European airlines.
Airlines found neglecting the onerous rules face stiff penalties that could, in worst-case scenarios, lead to the immobilisation, seizure and confiscation of aircraft or temporary suspension or the withdrawal of an operating licence.
The requirements include compelling airlines to share private data on all passengers including names, travel dates, full itineraries, billing data, baggage information, passport numbers and credit card details with European security agencies 24 hours before take-off, and again after a flight has closed.
The proposals, announced last week, oblige airlines to transmit no less than 19 pieces of personal data, as well as six additional data in the case of minors, on each passenger entering or leaving the European Union.
The information would be analysed by designated analysis units in charge of assessing travellers’ terrorist risk in the first EU State where the plane is to land.
In addition to the costs involved for airlines, the plans could also present possibly serious data protection implications given the sensitivity of the data being transmitted.
An Air Malta spokesperson contacted by The Malta Independent on Sunday, pointed out, “The collection and transmission of all this information is expected to have significant financial implications for airlines.”
Apart from cases of specific threats where data communication requirements are currently in place, airlines will have to transmit all data on all passengers 24 hours before a scheduled flight departure and immediately after flight closure as well.
Air Malta added, “The airline might not have complete information 24 hours before the scheduled flight departure due to the possibility of incomplete information given by passenger, cancellations and new bookings made thereafter.
“Yet penalties will be imposed on airlines for incomplete or erroneous information. In the case of repeated serious infringements this might even lead to immobilisation, seizure and confiscation of aircraft or the temporary suspension or withdrawal of operating licence.”
Air Malta also pointed out that the plans envisage a Passenger Information Unit in every member State, meaning that airlines might find themselves having to comply with 27 different systems instead of a central European agency.
The plans stipulate, “As a result of the legal and technical differences between national provisions concerning information, including PNR, air carriers will be faced with different requirements regarding the types of information to be transmitted, as well as the conditions under which this information needs to be provided to competent national authorities.”
Air Malta observed how air transport is the only mode of transport that has been singled out in the plans and added, “Since this instrument is purported to prevent terrorist acts, one wonders why other modes of transport are not also covered.”
The Commission, however, contends the proposal would not place any extra burden on airlines because they already have all the information and are already required to communicate passport data to member States’ competent authorities in order to fight illegal immigration.
Airlines, however, insist the proposals fail to take into account the practical consequences for both European carriers and their passengers.