IATA, AFRAA, AASA Call for Harmonised passenger data protocols in Africa

Major aviation bodies have issued a joint call to African governments to align their border security protocols with global best practices, warning that improper implementation and unfair funding models could cripple air connectivity and drive up the cost of travel across the continent.

In a unified stance, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged African States to implement Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems strictly in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

API and PNR systems allow governments to receive passenger information prior to travel, sharpening border security, enhancing law enforcement capabilities, and streamlining processing for legitimate travellers. However, the global bodies stressed that these benefits can only be realised if governments establish clear, standardised legal and operational frameworks.

According to the associations, State implementations must adhere to the following key principles which include national legislation that must align with international API/PNR standards, clear bilateral or regional agreements, and designate a single responsible government authority; proportional data collection mandating states to collect only necessary data, strictly adhering to guidelines jointly established by the World Customs Organization (WCO), IATA, and ICAO; and data protection & privacy stating that information must be retained only for defined periods, with robust safeguards against discrimination and misuse. Data must be limited exclusively to legitimate security, border control, and serious crime prevention purposes.

A major point of contention highlighted by the group is the illegal imposition of security fees on airlines and travellers to finance government border infrastructure.

Citing ICAO’s Policies on Charges for Airports and Air Navigation Services (Doc 9082), the organizations emphasized that national border security is a sovereign state responsibility.

Consequently, the funding for API and PNR programs must come from public coffers—not from taxes tacked onto air tickets.

Imposing API/PNR fees on carriers and passengers artificially inflates travel costs, stifles regional connectivity, and ultimately weakens the vital economic benefits aviation generates for Africa through tourism, trade, and cross-border investment.

In a joint statement, Abdérahmane Berthé (Secretary General, AFRAA), Aaron Munetsi (CEO, AASA), and Kamil Alawadhi (IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africa and Middle East) outlined the path forward:

“We support the implementation of Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record data transfer and recognise the important role passenger data plays in keeping borders secure. 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.”

The leadership reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating with governments, regional bodies, and international partners to deploy passenger data initiatives that fortify security while keeping African air transport safe, efficient, and affordable.

Wole Shadare