African airlines and their industry representatives have pushed back against attempts to make airlines and passengers pay for government-run Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record systems, insisting that border security is the responsibility of states.
The African Airlines Association, Airlines Association of Southern Africa and International Air Transport Association said they support the deployment of API and PNR systems across the continent, but warned that the cost should not be passed on to travellers or carriers through additional charges.
In a joint statement signed by AFRAA Secretary-General, Abdérahmane Berthé; AASA Chief Executive Officer, Aaron Munetsi; and IATA Regional Vice President, Africa and Middle East, Kamil Alawadhi, the associations said governments should fund the systems as part of their border-security responsibilities.
API and PNR systems allow governments to receive passenger information before travellers arrive at or depart from a country. The data can help authorities strengthen border controls, support law-enforcement operations and identify security risks, while also making the movement of legitimate travellers more efficient.
But the three aviation bodies warned that the benefits could be undermined if African countries introduce poorly coordinated systems or impose new financial burdens on an industry already grappling with high operating costs.
