The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), and the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) are calling on African nations to adopt Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems that align with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) global standards.
While these data systems are valuable for improving border security and assisting law enforcement, the organizations insist that governments should bear the financial burden. They argue that under ICAO guidelines, border security is a state duty, and costs should not be shifted to airlines or travelers.
Leadership representatives—Abdérahmane Berthé of AFRAA, Aaron Munetsi of AASA, and Kamil Alawadhi of IATA—stated that passing these expenses to airlines hurts travel affordability and restricts economic growth from tourism and trade. They emphasized that a unified approach is necessary to keep air travel efficient, secure, and cost-effective as the industry expands across Africa.
