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Airlines remain exempt from US rules on information sharing

UK air travellers to the US remain unaffected by a breakdown in talks between the European Union and Washington on sharing advance passenger information under the Advanced Passenger Information System scheme (APIS).


Airlines feared falling foul of EU law from Sunday if they continue to supply passenger data to US authorities, knowing that they risk being fined in the US and losing landing rights if they do not.


But the Government used a legal technical device, introducing an Air Navigation (Amendment) Order last month to allow UK airlines to continue supplying advance passenger information to the US.


The European Court of Human Rights had ruled the practice illegal in May and the deadline for finding a solution passed on Saturday.


France has made a similar arrangement to the UK, but airlines flying from elsewhere in the EU will be in breach of European law if they supply passenger data to the US without a unilateral government agreement.


Passengers due to fly to the US via Amsterdam, Brussels and other EU hubs should be advised to contact their airline before departure.

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