Travel Security Update.

For more safety & security news, data and analysis, please go to: http://www.airguideonline.com/professional.htm Jun 26, 2006

European Commission said the blacklist has "proved to be an effective incentive, [as] a number of countries and companies" that had not responded effectively to national bans have agreed to cooperate with the Commission in correcting security issues. Jun 21, 2006

European Commission took the initiative to add Star Jet, also based in Kyrgyzstan, to the blacklist after research indicated it was the same company as Star Air, which was licensed in Sierra Leone and already banned within the European Union. Libya-based Buraq Air, previously subject to operational restrictions on its cargo activities, was withdrawn from the list as it no longer conducts that type of operation. The EC also said a European inspection established that companies based in Mauritania need not be subject to a ban on operations. However, not all the conditions for lifting the ban on GST Aero, based in Kazakhstan, have been fulfilled. Jun 21, 2006

European Commission prepares new passenger data agreement. The European Commission tabled two initiatives to put "a legally sound framework" in place for the transfer of PNR data to the United States.Last month, the European Court of Justice ruled the current agreement dating from May 2004 was "founded on an inappropriate legal basis" and gave the EU and Washington until Sept. 30 to negotiate a replacement. Jun 20, 2006

Europe lays down the law on air marshals. The European Parliament last week called for a "strict" regulation on the use of Sky Marshals onboard aircraft.MEPs are insisting that weapons "shall not be carried onboard an aircraft, unless the required security conditions have been fulfilled, and authorization has been given by the state granting the operating license to the air carrier concerned. The amendment, which is in its first reading, is part of plans by the European Commission to update the common EU aviation security rules introduced after 9/11. Jun 19, 2006

The European Parliament decided that the costs of the security measures should be met by passengers and member states, though if a member state wants to impose even more stringent measures, it would have to cover the whole cost. The report stressed that security taxes and charges must be used "exclusively to meet airport or onboard aircraft security costs." To avoid any distortions in the market, they called on the Commission to propose a uniform system for the financing of airport security measures. Jun 19, 2006