African airlines reject API, PNR charges

African airlines and industry representatives have opposed plans to charge airlines and passengers for government-run Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems, arguing that border security remains the responsibility of individual states. The African Airlines Association, Airlines Association of Southern Africa, and the International Air Transport Association jointly stated that they back the rollout of API and PNR systems across the continent, but emphasized that costs should not be transferred to travelers or carriers through additional fees.

In a statement, the associations urged governments to fund the systems as part of their border security duties. API and PNR systems provide authorities with passenger information before travelers arrive at or depart from a country, aiding in bolstering border controls, supporting law enforcement efforts, and identifying security risks while streamlining legitimate travel.

However, the aviation bodies cautioned that poorly coordinated systems or new financial burdens could undermine these benefits for an industry already dealing with high operating costs. They particularly rejected the idea of passing on charges to airlines and passengers, as this could make air travel more expensive, weaken connectivity, and compromise the broader economic advantages of aviation such as tourism, trade, and investment.

The associations recommended that governments implementing API and PNR systems establish clear legal and operational frameworks, adhere to ICAO standards, and follow principles such as legality, proportionality, purpose limitation, consistency, and accuracy.