CP GEBTA: At last an EU-US agreement on Passenger Name Records?

19 décembre 2011

GEBTA is calling for a solid legal framework to comply with US authorities’ requirements to transfer PNRs.

The agreement signed between the European Union and United States on 14 December 2011 on PNR transfers to the US authorities will replace the current provisional agreement, if it is endorsed by the European Parliament and Council.

The objective of the new agreement is to provide better guarantees on an adequate level of protection of the personal data contained in PNRs that are processed and transferred by airlines from the EU to the USA. If the European Parliament or Council reject the new agreement, there could be a risk of legal vacuum in terms of protection of PNR data.

Said the President of GEBTA Mr. Michel DURRIEU: “It is fundamental to adequately protect passengers’ personal data. Nevertheless, the travel industry should not be put in an untenable position, where a country would require passengers’ data in uncertain conformity with EU legislation”. It is therefore crucial that European institutions ensure that there is a valid agreement in place between the EU and US, which is consistent with EU legislation on personal data protection and does not create a situation of legal uncertainty for passengers, travel management companies and other operators involved.