[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Je-hoon] Incheon Main Customs Office announced on the 27th that it will exempt the obligation to submit Passenger Name Records (PNR) for passenger aircraft converted for cargo transportation to support the aviation industry struggling with management difficulties due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
According to the current Customs Act, airlines are required to submit reservation data for all passengers to customs. Following this decision, from March 28 to the day before the announcement, 38 airlines operating 3,459 passenger flights converted to cargo planes (49% Korean Air, 13% Asiana Airlines, etc.) were exempted from submitting PNRs, reducing related costs and manpower burdens.
The exemption from the PNR submission obligation not only alleviates the airlines' burden of passenger reservation data transmission fees but also reduces the risk of fines due to non-submission of reservation data, according to Incheon Customs. Kim Yoon-sik, Commissioner of Incheon Main Customs Office, stated, "In the worsening domestic and international economic conditions due to COVID-19, we plan to actively support the industry's business normalization going forward."
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