African airlines and industry groups have opposed efforts to make airlines and passengers bear the cost of government-operated Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record systems, arguing that border security is a responsibility of governments.

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 Africa but stressed that their costs should not be passed on to airlines or travellers 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 for Africa and the Middle East Kamil Alawadhi, the associations said governments should finance the systems as part of their responsibility for border security.

API and PNR systems enable governments to receive passenger information before travellers arrive in or depart from a country.

The data can strengthen border controls, support law-enforcement efforts and help identify potential security threats, while facilitating the movement of legitimate travellers.

However, the three aviation bodies warned that the benefits of API and PNR systems could be undermined if African countries adopt poorly coordinated programmes or impose additional financial burdens on an industry already facing high operating costs.

They specifically opposed proposals to use charges on airlines and passengers to finance national API and PNR programmes.

The associations cited the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Policies on Charges for Airports and Air Navigation Services, contained in Doc 9082, which they said recognises border security as a government responsibility.

They therefore maintained that governments should bear the costs of border-security measures, including the development and operation of API and PNR systems.

The associations warned that passing the cost of API and PNR systems on to airlines and passengers would increase air travel expenses, weaken connectivity and potentially undermine aviation’s broader economic contributions to tourism, trade and investment.

They said additional charges could have consequences beyond higher ticket prices at a time when the industry is working to make air travel more accessible across Africa.

The aviation bodies urged governments introducing API and PNR systems to establish clear legal and operational frameworks before deployment and ensure that national programmes comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and other internationally recognised practices.

They said four key principles should guide the implementation of such systems: legality, proportionality, purpose limitation, and consistency and accuracy.

The associations also said information collected through API and PNR programmes should be used strictly for legitimate purposes, including border control, national security, law enforcement and the prevention of serious crimes.

They urged governments to prioritise accuracy and consistency when collecting, processing, storing and transmitting passenger information, while adopting harmonised global data formats and strong safeguards to protect personal information.

In their joint statement, the aviation bodies stressed that they were not opposed to passenger-data systems but to approaches that impose unnecessary costs, create inconsistent requirements and place avoidable burdens on airlines and travellers.

The organisations said, “We support the implementation of Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record data transfer and recognise the important role passenger data plays in keeping borders secure.

“However, these systems must be aligned around internationally recognised standards and funded correctly.”

They said stronger coordination between governments and the aviation industry would improve security while avoiding unnecessary complexity and higher travel costs.

“A consistent approach, with governments and industry working together, improves security outcomes, makes travel more seamless, safeguards personal data, and avoids unnecessary costs and complexity,” they added.