ABTA is hoping the government can be persuaded to reconsider proposals predicted to cost the industry £540 million over the next 15 years.
ABTA head of policy and communications David Marshall said the new e-Borders scheme, launched in October 2008, will require passengers travelling in and out of the
UK to supply personal information, including date of birth and passport number, before departure.
The information is required by the Home Office and, although it will need to be collected by the airlines, concerns are rising that agents may find the responsibility falls to them due to contractual arrangements or in order to offer the best service.
While business travel agents may have customers’ profiles, and agents with customers on scheduled airlines can use the GDS system to fill it out, no arrangements have been made for agents who book charter flights. An ABTA Federation of Tour Operators charter airlines working group is currently trying to find a solution.
The information can also be collected at the check-in desk, although airlines may have to install costly machines to do this.
It is hoped the details of 60% of all international travellers will have been collected by the end of the year, rising to 95% by December 2010.
ABTA manager trade relations Susan Parson said: “There is a substantial cost, but very little benefit.”
Marshall is due to meet Home Office minister Phil Woolas soon to discuss the scheme.
A Home Office spokesman disputed the projected cost of the scheme, saying it should only cost UK airlines £203 million over 10 years.
He added: “Our hi-tech electronic borders system will allow us to count all foreign nationals in and out of the UK, while checking them against watch-lists.”