IATA Calls for Fairer Handling of Inadmissible Passenger Cases

IATA has urged governments to establish a fairer balance of responsibility and costs when passengers are denied entry at their destination.

Industry Concern
- Airlines conduct travel document checks before departure, but many entry refusals occur due to factors beyond their control, including:
- Limited access to passenger information
- Fraudulent documentation
- Immigration and security decisions by governments
- Changing migration patterns

Findings from IATA Report
Lack of Transparency
- 40 out of 49 surveyed airlines reported that immigration authorities often did not disclose why passengers were denied entry.
- Airlines frequently manage passenger removals without understanding the reason for refusal.
Cost Burden on Airlines
- Airlines reported bearing costs that should have been covered by governments in over 90% of cases.
- Average costs per inadmissible passenger:
- US$4,000 in North Asia
- Up to US$14,000 in Europe
Operational Challenges
- All surveyed airlines experienced:
- Flight delays
- Rebooking disruptions
- Crew and aircraft scheduling issues
- Additional coordination with authorities
- Escort and removal arrangements
Reasons for Refusal
- Documentation and processing errors accounted for approximately 20-30% of inadmissible passenger cases.

Example Highlighted by IATA
- One airline incurred nearly €60,000 in care costs for a passenger held in government custody for six months while awaiting embassy cooperation.

What IATA Wants Governments to Do
Clarify Responsibility
- Distinguish between airline errors and circumstances beyond airline control.
Introduce Proportionate Penalties
- Align penalties and cost-sharing arrangements with the level of airline responsibility.
Improve Transparency
- Provide airlines with reasons for passenger entry refusals, where legally permissible.
Strengthen Prevention Measures
- Expand use of:
- Interactive Advance Passenger Information (iAPI)
- Digital document verification
- Immigration Liaison Officers
- Real-time communication channels
Enhance Coordination
- Improve cooperation between governments and airlines when inadmissible passengers need to be returned.

IATA's Position
- IATA maintains that governments and airlines share the common goal of secure borders and smooth travel, and that better information-sharing, digital tools and consistent application of global standards can help reduce inadmissible passenger cases while ensuring responsibilities and costs are fairly allocated.