US wants passenger info before overseas flights

WASHINGTON - Homeland security officials proposed today making airlines transmit passenger names and other information to the government before an international departure, a change designed to keep suspected terrorists off US-bound flights.

If approved, the security initiative would reverse current policy of requiring that manifests for flights originating in foreign countries be transmitted shortly after takeoff.

The proposal seeks to improve security as well as end the inconvenient and sometimes embarrassing practice of ordering flights diverted or turned around if manifest information raises suspicion with US authorities or is incomplete.

The change also should relieve airlines operating international flights of having to screen their passengers against security watch lists or "no fly" lists maintained by the US government, homeland security officials said.

"Our priority is to keep terrorists out of the United States by preventing them from boarding international flights," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a statement.

Airlines and privacy groups have been critical of the practice. Carriers do not like the intrusion on their operations and privacy groups say the government does not need all of the information to ensure security.

The industry group representing leading US airlines, the Air Transport Association, said it would study the proposal.

"We look forward to reviewing and commenting on the proposed rule," ATA President James May said in a statement. "Harmonisation of domestic and international passenger pre-screening is vitally important to the airline industry."

The European Union's highest court in May struck down an agreement that allowed airlines to provide names, addresses, fare payment details and telephone numbers to US authorities. EU officials are working to correct legal language and draft a new regulation before autumn.

The US proposal would apply to all international flights. Currently all overseas flights originating in the United States must transmit passenger information before departure.

Authorities are concerned that a suspicious person allowed to board an aircraft could plant or retrieve a bomb or other weapon before takeoff or in the early stages of a flight.

Under the new plan, carriers could transmit the entire manifest 60 minutes before departure or relay data as passengers check in up to 15 minutes before the plane leaves.

Customs would have to clear each name before a passenger can board. The proposal would also change the definition of departure from when a plane leaves the ground to when it leaves the gate.

- REUTERS