11 June 2024: Last week, the Council issued the agreement between Canada and the EU on the transfer and processing of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data as well as the decision related to the conclusion of the agreement.

According to the agreement, the European Union shall ensure that air carriers are not prevented from transferring PNR data to the Canadian Competent Authority and so Canada shall not require an air carrier to provide elements of PNR data that are not already collected or held by the air carrier for reservation purposes.

The country shall also delete upon receipt any data transferred to it by an air carrier, pursuant to this Agreement, if that data element is not listed in the Annex.

As a reminder, several air carriers found themselves in a difficult position when it comes to PNR regulation, as the EU forbids them to share such data, but some third countries outside the EU require it. ERA co-signed and sent a letter to Commissioner Ylva Johannson in May 2023 to stress the importance to increase this type of agreement in order to reduce the burden and the risk of penalties for airlines. The Commission responded that they were trying to make agreements with other third countries such as Switzerland, Iceland and Norway.