Delhi: Starting April 1, 2025, all airlines operating international flights to and from India must share detailed passenger information with the country’s customs authorities, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has said.
CBIC has said that failure to comply can result in penalties ranging from INR 25,000 (Dh1,070) to INR 50,000 (Dh2,140.9) for each instance of non-compliance.
Under the ‘Passenger Name Record Information Regulations, 2022,’ issued on August 8, 2022, airlines must register with the National Customs Targeting Centre-Passenger (NCTC-Pax) by January 10, 2025. According to the CBIC notice, the rules are applicable to all passengers on international flights to and from India, including travellers from the UAE. This also includes transit or transfer passengers.
What details will be shared?
Details ranging from mobile number and payment mode to travel itinerary need to be shared with the authorities 24 hours before the departure of an international flight. “Every aircraft operator shall transfer passenger name record information not later than twenty-four hours before the departure time; or at the departure time – wheels off,” the CBIC notice read.
Airlines must share the following information for both inbound and outbound international flights: the passenger’s name, billing/payment information (credit card number), the date of issue of the ticket, the intended travel, the names of other travellers in the same PNR, and the travel itinerary for the PNR.
In addition to contact details like email ID and mobile number, airlines must also share travel agency details, baggage information, and codeshare information (when one airline sells seats on another airline’s flight) with NCTC-Pax.
Why is this being done?
According to authorities, the initiative is designed to strengthen risk analysis and border security.
In a communication issued last week, the CBIC said NCTC-Pax is developing the system to implement the regulation.
The Customs department also said that the PNRGOV system—to collect requisite passenger information—will be implemented on a pilot basis with some airlines that have expressed willingness to participate.
When will it be launched?
“The pilot phase is scheduled to be implemented by February 10, 2025. Thereafter, full-scale operation is planned from April 1, 2025, for individual airlines and from June 1, 2025, for airlines intending to operate through GDS (global distribution system),” the CBIC explained.
How will the passenger data be used?
The new regulations mandate that airlines ensure passenger privacy by securely handling data such as names, contact details, and travel itineraries. Sensitive information, including race, religion, political views, and health details, is prohibited from processing.
The National Customs Targeting Centre-Passenger (NCTC-Pax) will oversee the secure handling of this data, accessible only to authorized personnel, with robust privacy measures in place. Passenger data will be stored for up to five years. After this period, it must be anonymized unless needed for investigations, legal proceedings, or security threats, allowing authorities to unmask records when necessary.
