Airlines to Provide Greek Police with Passenger Data as Greece Harmonizes with EU Rules

Photo Source: Athens International Airport

Airlines will be required to provide Greek Police (ELAS) with data on passengers traveling into or out of Greece, or face fines of up to 30,000 euros, as the country harmonizes with the EU’s PNR Directive (Directive 2016/681) aimed at curbing terrorism and crime.

Photo source: European Parliament / ©AP Images/European Union – EP

The European Commission had called on Greece and 13 other EU member states earlier this year to apply the new PNR (Passenger Name Record) rules, which require travelers to provide detailed personal information ahead of travel.

The PNR Directive foresees that air carriers must transfer PNR data to EU states; EU members must set up “Passenger Information Units” responsible for collecting, storing and processing the PNR data received from the airline as well as comparing the data against relevant law enforcement databases; EU counties must name the authorities which can request or receive PNR data; PNR data or the result of its processing can be exchanged between EU states and Europol.

Greece has named ELAS as the authority responsible for PNR data collection and assessment.

According to a draft law tabled by the Citizen’s Protection Ministry in parliament for public order committee review, airlines will be required to transfer data to the ELAS Passenger Information Unit up to two days ahead scheduled flight departure and immediately after the flight closes.

Failure to comply will carry an initial fine of 5,000 euros per flight imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority, and may reach 30,000 euros by joint ministerial decision.

Aimed at tightening security, preventing, detecting and investigating terrorism and other forms of crime including drugs and human trafficking, and child sexual exploitation, the EU’s PNR rules oblige travelers to provide full name, address and contact, date of booking and ticket issue, scheduled travel date, payment method and billing address, travel agent, travel history, and baggage information.