News

AGENTS are warning operators to keep their hands off valuable customer information needed to comply with tougher US security measures.

Planned extensions to US Advanced Passenger Information System rules will require airlines to send passenger contact details, including home addresses, to the US authorities 72 hours in advance of departure.

Charter carriers and operators will have to rely on agents to send clients’ information, but agents fear operators will use the data to approach customers direct. Although rules exist to prevent misuse of data, many fear they are weak and open to abuse. 

Midconsort chief executive Charles Eftichiou said: “I don’t know if the data protection authorities have sufficient powers. The number of times we have had our customers contacted direct by the operator is unbelievable. This is open to abuse.”

Eftichiou called for strict rules to govern the transfer of data and “severe penalties” if the information is abused.

His call was echoed by DP&L Travel director Graham James. “We need strict guarantees,” he said. “This is something I would not be comfortable with because it could be abused.”

Dykes Travel managing partner Geoff Dykes said: “I would have an issue with it. We may not have a choice, but I’d prefer not to give details to the operator.”

Dykes called for a system similar to the Australian Electronic Travel Authority, in which data is sent direct to the immigration authorities.

ABTA, the Federation of Tour Operators and charter airlines have formed a working party to draw up guidelines on how the information will be used and devise a data transfer system.

FTO director general Andy Cooper said: “We are working with ABTA to get guidelines sorted out because there needs to be trust here. It’s vital the information gets through.”

Thomas Cook head of public affairs George Blundell-Pound warned bookings would not be accepted without the information. “It will require some degree of confidence on agents’ part.”

The passenger contact details requirement is expected to be imposed within two years.

Charter airlines already face lengthy airport queues when APIS Plus rules requiring data to be sent within 15 minutes of a flight’s departure are introduced this winter. Charters will collect this information at airports.