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International
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- EU and U.S. reach interim passenger data agreement
- Fully-horizontal lie-flat seats coming to Delta’s international business class
EU and U.S. reach interim passenger data agreement
European Union (EU) and U.S. officials have reached an interim anti-terror agreement, valid until July 2007, giving U.S. law enforcement agencies continued access to passenger data on U.S.–bound flights. This interim agreement replaces the 2004 air passenger privacy deal, which was voided by the EU high court in 2005 citing technical reasons. The two sides reached the interim agreement after missing an October 1 deadline.
Under the terms of the new agreement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials are required to request data from European airlines bound for the U.S. rather than simply accessing it through European airlines’ computer systems. Specific guidelines state Passenger Name Record (PNR) data, which include 34 pieces of passenger data ranging from passenger names and addresses to credit card information, will be transmitted by EU carriers to U.S. authorities within 15 minutes of flight departure. This data transfer allows U.S. authorities to check the passenger flight data against the American wanted list.
Additionally, the new agreement requires strict levels of security among the U.S. agencies sharing the data; however, the DHS can disclose passenger data to U.S. law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, if those agencies have similar standards of data protection. According to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, this agreement was paramount to “allow agencies with counter-terrorism responsibilities to share information for investigation, analysis, and prevention of terrorism or related crimes.”
The interim agreement has been applauded by leaders around the world, including British Home Secretary John Reid, French Justice Minister Pascal Clement and International Air Transport Association Director General Giovanni Bisignani.
Negotiation talks will continue and the U.S. and EU plan to reach a permanent agreement next year.
Sources: Department of Homeland Security, Reuters, Houston Chronicle, Associated Press, ATA SmartBrief, Times Union, BTC, ATW Daily News
Fully-horizontal lie-flat seats coming to Delta’s international business class
Delta Air Lines announced October 10 it will introduce private personal sleeper suites in its international BusinessElite class of service in early 2008. The suites will feature the first airplane seats to recline into a fully-horizontal 6-foot, 3-inch bed, a privacy screen with a pull-out meal table and a fold-out video monitor for entertainment, and direct access to aisles.
The sleeper suites will initially be installed on 10 of Delta’s Boeing 777s, reducing the 50-seat business class cabins on these planes to 43 seats. By 2010, the sleeper suites will be offered in all 77 of Delta’s Boeing 777s and 767s, allowing passengers flying between the U.S. and Asia, Africa and the Middle East to privately relax and sleep in flight.
Sources: Delta Air Lines, San Diego Union-Tribune, ATA SmartBrief
