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BAR UK welcomes the House of Lords report criticising an EU plan to force airlines to provide passenger data

BAR UK members are grateful to the House of Lords EU Committee which today published its report on a proposed EU directive on the provision of passenger data.

BAR UK's Chief Executive, Peter North, said "We support the view put forward by the Committee which said that it was unlikely to reduce illegal immigration significantly and that it would certainly cause massive disruption to millions of passengers." The House of Lords Committee went on to remark that the proposed legislation was an unnecessary burden on the hard-pressed industry and that the EU should think again.

BAR UK gave written evidence to the Committee in September of last year. We pointed out that there were already draconian sanctions in place for carrying passengers who landed in this country with inadequate documentation. A £2,000 fine is imposed for each such passenger. In addition the law provides for carriers to pay up to 14 days of detention costs which can add up to another £2,000. Finally, carriers may be required to transport passengers to a third country, possibly one to which they do not fly, and in which case they have to purchase tickets for the passenger. With this in mind it would come as no surprise to learn that BAR UK members do all they can to avoid carrying passengers who are not properly documented.

The original proposal also sought to require airlines to inform the authorities when passengers did not travel as booked for their onward or return journeys. This was not acceptable and, as we pointed out at the time, BAR UK members are in the business of transporting passengers, not operating border controls.

The EU directive is still being considered, albeit in modified form, but we hope that this excellent report from the House of Lords will ensure that it does not get onto the statute book.... ENDS

For further information contact:
Peter North
Chief Executive
BAR UK