In order to cope with a dramatic growth in passenger traffic, Customs administrations implemented various measures to facilitate the movement of passengers while maintaining appropriate control. One of the measures developed in co-operation with the airline industry was the development of the Advance Passenger Information (API) System. The WCO and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) jointly developed the WCO/IATA Guidelines on Advance Passenger Information in 1993 as a tool to help their members implement this system.

 

In 2003, the WCO, in co-operation with IATA and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), reviewed the Guidelines in order to take into account new developments surrounding air transport industry and border control agencies including Customs and published the 2003 edition of the API Guidelines. These developments include such items as security, data protection and mutual administrative assistance. These Guidelines were revised and adopted during the Permanent Technical Committee (PTC) held in March 2010. Thereafter by February 2011, WCO, IATA and ICAO formally adopted these guidelines in their respective organizations.

 

The API Contact Committee comprising WCO, IATA and ICAO are currently working on guidelines for ‘Interactive API’, which is a more advanced method of passenger processing at airports. These guidelines are expected to be published in 2012. 

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