US and Europe to thrash out PNR rules
US security chiefs are meeting counterparts in Europe to try to reach an agreement over the controversial issue of passenger name records on flights.
Security officials in Europe are reluctant to issue information about passengers before take-off, believing it could contravene privacy rules.
But the US wants key information on air travellers bound for the country up to an hour before the flight departs, so it can check passengers against a no-fly list. Current rules require the data to be transferred 15 minutes after the flight departs.
US Homeland Security secretary Micheal Chertoff said he was visiting counterparts in the UK, Netherlands and Belgium to encourage them to share information and improve passenger screening.
He said: “Right now the rule is 15 minutes after lift off. That raises the possibility of a plane getting turned around and I have to believe that is more destructive than giving us advance information.”
Chertoff said he understood the privacy concerns but was confident the US could reach agreement with European countries by requesting only limited information on passengers.
However, an additional concern is that airlines fear supplying information up to an hour before departure would cause considerable delays at airports.
Phil Davies
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