13/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - Ulrich Schulte-Strathaus, Secretary General of the Association of European Airlines (AEA), says the plan for an EU PNR (Passenger Name Record) would be 'an operational and technical nightmare'. In a press release issued on 8 November, Schulte-Strathaus criticised the European Commission's recently unveiled plans (see EUROPE 9536 and 9537): 'Commissioner Frattini's proposed decentralised system means that our carriers will have to comply with 27 different national data collection systems.' The AEA is 'asking for the system to be applied to all transport modes, so as to avoid discrimination and competitive distortions,' because it would only apply to airline passengers and not travellers using other modes of transport. He points out that it is vital that the Commission takes account of the financial impact of such a scheme on the air industry. (B.C.)