The Somalia Civil Aviation Authority (ICAS) has announced a new requirement for all international airlines operating in the country to submit Advanced Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Records (PNR), effective March 31, 2025.
In a statement on Monday, ICAS emphasized that this move aims to enhance aviation security and passenger safety. The agency also acknowledged the “valuable collaboration” with the U.S. Embassy in Somalia in implementing this initiative.
The announcement comes just days after the U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu issued a security alert, warning of a potential attack at Aden Adde International Airport. While ICAS did not explicitly link the new requirement to the alert, aviation security experts suggest that collecting and analyzing passenger data in advance could help authorities identify potential threats before they arrive in the country.
API and PNR data are standard security measures in many countries, allowing authorities to pre-screen passengers for security risks. API typically includes passport details, nationality, and flight information, while PNR contains broader details such as travel itineraries, payment methods, and baggage details.
Airlines operating flights to Somalia will now need to ensure full compliance with the new data submission requirement before the deadline.
