WASHINGTON -- New
guidelines proposed jointly by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and the Dept. of Health and Human Services to control
the spread of communicable diseases could be costly to both travel
agents and airlines, which would have to collect and store certain
passenger data, according to comments filed in response to the
pending proposal.
In the wake of
the SARS epidemic and amid concerns of a possible avian flu
pandemic, the proposed guidelines are an attempt to update
longstanding quarantine procedures.
They were first
proposed last November. The public was asked to comment on the
proposal by March 1.
The government
said its overriding objective is to stop an outbreak whether
naturally 
occurring or
intentionally caused.
The guidelines
would, among other things, require airlines and cruise lines to
report any passengers who exhibit signs of an influenza-like
illness. Airlines and cruise lines would also have to maintain
records detailing the passengers name, seat/room assignment and
emergency contact information for up to 60 days.
The data would
also include the passengers e-mail address, home address, passport
number, names of traveling companions and flight information,
including return flight, as well as the passengers home and mobile
telephone numbers.
The information,
possibly collected by a travel agent at the time of a booking or
before a passenger departs on a flight or a cruise, would then have
to be transmitted electronically to the CDC.
The new
guidelines also broaden the definition of an ill person to include
anyone exhibiting signs or symptoms commonly associated with
diseases for which provisional quarantine or quarantine may be
necessary.
The definition
was broadened partly because the reporting of ill passengers relies
on personnel without medical training, according to the
CDC.
In its comments,
British Airways said the data-collection requirement amounts to a
wholly unreasonable demand. The airline noted that it currently
collects and stores similar passenger data via Amadeus reservations
and another database called Departure Control.
However, the
carrier noted, Neither system maintains data ... for 60 days. In
fact, the airline added, the passenger data are deleted 24 hours
after the completion of the flight.
Updating the
systems for 60-day storage is not feasible, which the airline said
would force it to build a completely new database in order to
comply with the guidelines.
Virgin Atlantic
in its comments also contended that the 60-day requirement would
force carriers to construct new databases. It would also cause
considerable operational problems, not the least [of which would
be] additional time at check-in.
ASTA said the
collection of such information would also impose a cost on travel
agents and contended that the need for this data is not a travel
need; it is a public health need affecting everyone.
As a result, it
said, Sound policy would require that the cost be borne by
everyone, not just those in the industry who handle the business
transaction.
ASTA recommended
the various government agencies involved in these collection
efforts get together and develop a single protocol for collection,
storage and reporting of travel information.
ASTA said it was
important that the travel industry not be presented with what
amounts, in practical terms, to random requirements to collect,
store and transmit personal information about travelers.
To contact
reporter Michael Milligan, send e-mail to [email protected].