NEWS RELEASE
Friday 24 May 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SPAA WELCOMES EU IATA RESOLUTION 787 INFORMATION REQUEST
The Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA) has welcomed the EU Article 29 Working Party’s (WP29) letter to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regarding the “New Distribution Capability” (NDC) as agreed by IATA airlines in the form of IATA Resolution 787.
The WP29 letter raised a number of privacy and human rights concerns about NDC, particularly traveller profiling, after noting that under NDC the airlines would have the right to demand every traveller’s nationality, age, marital status, travel history, shopping history, purchase history, frequent flyer participation and whether a trip was for business or leisure before quoting prices. Non-compliance could result in less favourable fare offerings - both ill advised and deeply discriminatory, according to the SPAA.
Due to these concerns, the WP29 letter made clear that data protection authorities of the EU Member States would need to evaluate all potential impacts from NDC and that WP29 had formally placed NDC on its agenda. As a first step in an expanded review process, WP29 requested documentation from IATA about its proposed new business model. WP29 comprises a data protection official from each EU Member State, the European Data Protection Supervisor and a representative from the EC.
Much has still to be developed and learned about NDC, but the potential negative effects of NDC - a less robust airline and distribution channel, less competition and higher fares - "are only overshadowed by consumer privacy concerns voiced by travel industry stakeholders and consumers from across the European Union and the world.” stated SPAA President Kevin Thom. “The SPAA is not against progress. On the contrary, we welcome progress providing it brings real benefits to all stakeholders and consumers, and does not threaten the relationships our members have with their corporate and leisure clients, but at this time we remain unconvinced by NDC.” added Thom. ENDS
FOR EDITORS – ABOUT THE SPAA
The SPAA (Scottish Passenger Agents' Association) today represents all of Scotland’s major travel agents within its Membership, working increasingly pro-actively with a growing group of Associate Members – our Principals – to address the issues and meet the challenges of the constantly changing travel marketplace, thereby protecting the interests of our mutual clients throughout the nation and beyond. The Association is managed by an elected Council, and operated on a day-to-day basis by a Secretariat of three - a Secretary, Treasurer and Publisher. Day to day and media contact is conducted through a designated group of Principal Contacts (see www.spaa.org / Contact Us ), and specific areas of travel sector affairs and SPAA activities are managed by the SPAA's Committees (see www.spaa.org / Contact Us).
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
Kevin Thom - SPAA President
telephone 01224 772828 /
Janice Hogarth – SPAA Secretary
telephone 0131 531 0625 /