Some EU member states want the already practiced recording of PNRs, under which airlines store a lot of information about the booking, to be extended. The argument put forward is that this would be needed to combat terrorism and serious crime.

Specifically, it is about the API data, which includes, among other things, name, date of birth, nationality, information about luggage and possibly also passport data. So far, the airlines have sent a PNR list, but many have not sent any API data records. Some EU countries want to see this changed and oblige the airlines to also feed the data collected during check-in (regardless of whether this is done online or at the counter) into a central database.

The United Kingdom already requires airlines wishing to land in its territory to submit such information electronically in advance. At least officially, this should make the work of the border police easier.

During the corona pandemic, Germany got into trouble with the EU Commission because the health authorities were allowed to evaluate the PNR data. There was and is no legal basis for this. The Federal Republic initially did not stop the illegal practice, but gave in after Brussels had announced infringement proceedings and a lawsuit.

Misuse of PNR data records is therefore possible at any time and the example of Germany shows that all that is needed is a kind of "pretext" and whether there is a legal basis or not is irrelevant anyway. Actually, access to the PNR records is only permitted if there is a concrete suspicion of serious crimes and suspicion of terrorism.

However, there seems to be a fundamental misconception in politics, because the years of pushing around the PNRs also show that it is not even considered that potential terrorists or wanted criminals could use other means of transport than the plane. If they travel, for example, by train, long-distance bus, ship or car, the PNR recording, which is required for aviation, is of absolutely no use.