to an interim deal covering the transfer of data about travelers bound for U.S. airports, according to published reports. If approved by E.U. ministers next week, the new deal would replace an agreement that expired this week, and would run to July 2007, when a permanent pact is enacted. Under terms of the deal, European airlines still would make available 34 data items from passenger name records, but U.S. authorities would obtain the information through a new request system rather than by direct access, according to
Reuters. Absent an approved agreement,
European airlines could be fined or lose U.S. landing rights, and travelers could be asked to sign data release waivers.