African airlines warn new security levies could raise airfares

African airline industry bodies have urged governments across the continent to finance the deployment of passenger data systems without imposing additional costs on airlines or travellers, warning that new levies could increase airfares, weaken connectivity and undermine efforts to expand intra-African trade and tourism.

The call was made in a joint statement by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), as African countries accelerate efforts to strengthen border security while improving the efficiency of cross-border travel.

The associations called on governments to implement Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems in accordance with standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), but insisted that the cost of operating the systems should be borne by governments rather than transferred to airlines and passengers.

API and PNR systems enable authorities to receive passenger information before departure and arrival, helping immigration, customs and security agencies identify potential risks, strengthen border management and facilitate the movement of legitimate travellers.

While API data typically include basic passenger details such as name, nationality, date of birth and passport information, PNR data provide additional travel information, including booking records, itineraries and ticket details.

The airline groups said the systems have become an important component of modern aviation security but cautioned that their implementation must be supported by appropriate legal and operational frameworks to safeguard passenger privacy and ensure the responsible use of personal information.

They stressed that governments should collect only data necessary for border management, national security and crime prevention, while adopting internationally recognised standards for the collection, storage and transmission of passenger information.

However, the associations warned that requiring airlines to finance the systems through additional regulatory charges would ultimately increase ticket prices, discourage passenger demand and reduce the competitiveness of African aviation.

Higher travel costs, they argued, could also slow progress towards deeper regional integration by affecting tourism, business travel, trade and foreign investment across the continent.

The groups said governments have the primary responsibility for funding national security infrastructure and should therefore absorb the cost of implementing API and PNR systems as part of broader public security investments.

In the joint statement,Abdérahmane Berthé,  AFRAA secretary-general; Aaron Munetsi, AASA chief executive officer, and Kamil Alawadhi, IATA regional vice-president for Africa and the Middle East called for closer collaboration between governments, regulators and the aviation industry to ensure successful implementation.

They said a coordinated approach would strengthen border security, protect passenger data, improve travel efficiency and support the long-term growth of Africa’s aviation sector without placing additional financial burdens on airlines or consumers.

Oluwadarasimi Omiyale