U.S., European Union Agree on Passenger Data

The U.S. and the European Union salvaged an agreement on the screening of airline passengers to fight terrorism, sparing transatlantic carriers the threat of lawsuits.

The two sides revived a 2004 accord enabling European airlines to hand over information about U.S.-bound passengers without violating EU privacy rules.

European negotiators bowed to U.S. demands to let more American authorities see 34 pieces of information about passengers, including names, addresses, seat numbers and ticket-paying methods.

The agreement, prompted by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, was in legal limbo after being struck down in May by the EU high court because it was based on European economic rather than anti-terror law.