France's New Passenger Data Rules for Private Charter Flights

France has introduced a new passenger data system for commercial charter flights, replacing the paperwork previously filed on arrival. From 1 October 2026, operators must submit full passenger details before every flight to, from, or through French territory. The requirement sits within a wider European push to standardise how passenger data reaches border authorities, so here is what the rule actually requires, who enforces it, and what it means if you are booking a charter flight.

What API-PNR is, and who enforces it

The system, called API-PNR, already applies to commercial airlines, according to EBAA. API stands for Advance Passenger Information, the biographic and document data on each traveller, while PNR stands for Passenger Name Record, the booking and reservation data. Extending the requirement to business aviation brings charter flights in line with wider European rules on passenger data and border security.

The legal basis sits in France's Internal Security Code, implementing the EU's original Advance Passenger Information directive and the EU's Passenger Name Record directive. Compliance is managed by France's National Travel Data Agency, known as ANDV, which acts as the country's single point of contact for operators submitting this data, per ANDV guidelines. The current version of ANDV's technical guidance for operators has been in place since 2022, so the framework itself is not new. What is new, from 1 October 2026, is that it now applies to business aviation charter flights as well as commercial airlines.

What operators must submit, and when

The data required goes beyond a simple passenger list. Operators must submit each traveller's passport number, nationality, date of birth, gender, passport expiry date, seat assignment, baggage details, itinerary, and payment details, per ANDV guidelines. For flights carrying an unaccompanied minor, the guardian's contact details must also be provided.

Rather than a single submission, the data is sent in stages. A first transmission is required 48 hours before scheduled departure, a second at the moment of actual departure, and a third when the flight or check in closes. Multi leg itineraries need a fresh transmission for each segment, so a charter flight with two stops can trigger several submissions rather than one. Diverted or delayed flights follow a simplified procedure, and cancelled flights need no submission at all.

Who the rule applies to

The rule applies to all commercial charter flights at any French airport, but not to owner-flown, cargo, crew only, or military flights, and it also covers flights between mainland France and its overseas territories, such as Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Polynesia. Only flights entirely within mainland France and Corsica are exempt. API-PNR effectively replaces the general declaration paperwork that charter operators previously filed for these flights, consolidating what used to be a separate process into a single data submission.

Non-compliance risks a fine of up to 50,000 euros per flight, according to ANDV. This does not mean a delayed flight for passengers, only a financial and compliance risk for the operator, who remains legally responsible for the accuracy of the data even when a handling agent submits it on their behalf.

The wider European picture

France's move sits inside a broader EU shift. Two new EU regulations adopted in January 2025 are replacing the bloc's older passenger data framework with a single shared system, so that carriers submit passenger data once rather than separately to each member state they fly to. Under that EU wide regime, penalties for non-compliant carriers can reach up to 2 percent of global turnover, a considerably higher ceiling than France's own per flight fine. Separately, the EU's Passenger Name Record directive allows member states to apply passenger data collection to flights within the EU only when there is a genuine security threat, which is part of why France frames this requirement as a security measure rather than routine border administration.

What it means for you as a charter client

For most Fast Private Jet clients, the change is when you are asked for information, not whether you provide it. Expect your operator to request passport, personal, and payment details earlier for any trip touching France or its overseas territories from October 2026 onward. Having that ready when you book helps avoid a last minute scramble, particularly for multi leg itineraries that need it collected for each segment. This is a compliance step for your operator, not a new document you must carry yourself.

Sources

• EBAA: France introduces API-PNR collection for commercial business aviation
• ANDV: PNR Guidelines, API-PNR