Aer Lingus will give passenger data to US

AER LINGUS will provide US authorities will details of all passengers flying to America from the end of this month, despite fears that it may invade people’s right to privacy.

The US is demanding access to the airline's passenger information data as part of their campaign against terrorism.

The information requested includes credit card details, frequent flier information, addresses and email, baggage data, dietary requirements that may indicate if a person is Jewish or Muslim and any comments made by booking staff about a passenger.

The majority of European countries have handed over this information despite the fact that it is illegal under EU law and violates the privacy rights of citizens.

However, the European Commission has turned a blind eye to the practice while they try to negotiate a new agreement with authorities in the US.

But yesterday Commissioner Frits Bolkestein warned the current situation cannot continue much longer and gave the US until Christmas to reach agreement. It would then be up to the Data Protection Commissioner in each country to take action against any airlines giving the information to the US, he said.

Mr Bolkestein has been in negotiations with the US for some time to try to get them to bring their demands more into line with Europe's data protection laws, but was making very little progress.

The US has threatened that if airlines do not provide this information they can refuse them landing rights, or quiz passengers when they arrive in the country. "There is no avoiding the fact that the US has a different approach when it comes to the security of their homeland," Mr Bolkestein said.

Authorities in the US want to keep the information for 50 years, share it with other authorities, including internal revenue, who may not be involved in anti-terrorist activities and it may end up being sold on to private companies.

According to the Irish data protection office, Aer Lingus will not give the US access to their full passenger lists, only to those flying to the US.

Passengers will be informed about this when they are being issued with tickets.

Dublin MEP Niall Andrews said the Government should resist any efforts by the right-wing Bush administration to interfere with civil liberties.

Aer Lingus spokesperson Dan Loughrey said the US authorities had given them a deadline of the beginning of October to provide the information.

"It would seem that if airlines are to continue to fly to the US, they have to comply. The message is clear they expect compliance," he said.