The US Department of Transportation (DOT) announced today that the fourth in a series of public meetings of the Advisory Committee on Aviation Consumer Protection will focus on privacy issues.  This DOT Committee has been working on various rulemaking and enforcement initiatives affecting consumer protection in air travel, but this will be the first time that privacy practices and use of data have been made the central topic of a Committee meeting.  The DOT supervises airlines privacy practices because airlines are subject to sector-specific oversight (air carriers are among the businesses that are excluded from the FTC’s Section 5 authority). 

The announcement states that the meeting will address the treatment of personally identifiable information collected in connection with the purchase of air travel from airlines and travel agents.  Issues to be discussed include: 

  • what information is collected and by whom?
  • who retains information (airlines, travel agents, including on-line travel agents (OTAs), and global distribution systems (GDSs))?
  • what privacy policies are in place and is information used consistent with those policies?
  • what security measures are in place to protect against unauthorized access?  

The meeting will be held on May 21st at the FAA Headquarters from 9am to 5pm Eastern Time. The meeting will involve presentations from government representatives, the airline and travel agent industry, including GDSs and OTAs, and consumer privacy groups. The meeting will be open to the public and written comments may be submitted in advance of the meeting. The docket number is OST-2012-0087 (https://www.regulations.gov).

Tags: airline; GDS; OTA; PNR; passengers; DOT; department of transportation; travel agent
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For over 30 years Nigel Howard has specialized in technology transactions such as M&A, strategic alliances, licensing, distribution agreements and outsourcing. Clients range from start-ups and emerging companies to international corporations. He has led negotiations of billion dollar service agreements that were critical…

For over 30 years Nigel Howard has specialized in technology transactions such as M&A, strategic alliances, licensing, distribution agreements and outsourcing. Clients range from start-ups and emerging companies to international corporations. He has led negotiations of billion dollar service agreements that were critical to his client, and successfully handled the intellectual property and data issues on over 250 venture capital and M&A transactions.

Nigel is a “tremendous attorney” singled out for his detail-oriented approach, according to clients interviewed by Chambers and Partners. Peer commentators note his admirable commercial awareness, which achieves business-focused results, often in the most challenging of circumstances. He uses his extensive experience with IP and technology to advise on the commercial imperatives underlying these agreements.

Nigel has been ranked by Chambers Global, Chambers USA, Legal 500, Best Lawyers in America, and Who’s Who in American Law. He is frequent speaker on AI, data, distribution, and technology legal issues. His past and current clients include American Airlines, the American Bankers Association, American Express, AstraZeneca, British Airways, Brown Brothers Harriman, Cathay Pacific, Cisco, CoBank, DoubleClick, Etihad, HPE, Farelogix, Iberia, Mars, Merck, Merrill Lynch, Microsoft, NCR, the NFL, Novartis, P&G, Philippine Airlines, Promontory Financial, Singapore Airlines, Teva, TouchTunes, UBS, and Wyeth.

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