(Posted 12th December 2025)
Border authorities worldwide are under growing pressure to
manage rising passenger numbers while strengthening security. To meet this challenge, Angola
has taken a proactive approach with the deployment of SITA’s Advance Passenger Information
and Passenger Name Record Gateway (API PNR Gateway) at Dr. António Agostinho Neto
International Airport, supported by SITA’s Passenger Information Unit (PIU) consultancy
services. This will strengthen Angola’s operational and data-governance frameworks, ensuring
these systems deliver long-term value. The initiative is complemented by a new Passenger
Information Monitoring and Management center in Luanda, creating a foundation for faster
decision-making and improved security outcomes.
The new system allows airlines to send two types of passenger data to authorities before
departure: Advance Passenger Information (API), which includes passport and identity details,
and Passenger Name Record (PNR), which contains the passenger’s itinerary and booking
information. Bringing this information together in one place gives authorities an earlier and more
accurate view of who is travelling to the country and, with SITA’s guidance, helps establish the
processes and analytical frameworks needed to turn this data into faster and more informed
decision making.
By combining API and PNR data, the system helps ANAC identify irregularities, detect
suspicious travel patterns, and prevent unauthorized travelers from boarding flights bound for
Angola. It also supports compliance with international requirements set by the United Nations
Security Council, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the European Union.
The State Secretary for Civil Aviation, Maritime and Port Sectors, Rui Carreira, stated that
“the inauguration of the National Command and Control Center marks a historic moment for Angola. This strategic investment strengthens the security of our borders and consolidates the
country’s position as a modern and competitive international transport hub.”
ANAC President Amélia Kuvíngua added: “The system allows us to act preventively and in a
coordinated manner, manage migratory flows more effectively, and strengthen our
preparedness against transnational crime. With SITA’s specialized support, Angola now has
robust capabilities to operate these systems with confidence and efficiency.”
The deployment is part of Angola’s national API PNR program, which also includes the creation
of a new Passenger Information Monitoring and Management center in Luanda. This center will
serve as the central hub for the country’s border operations, bringing together multiple
workstations where specialists can monitor and analyze API and PNR data in real time. By
viewing the information in an integrated way, teams can coordinate faster responses to potential
risks or incidents.
Located next to the Passenger Information Monitoring and Management center is a dedicated
Data Center with high processing and storage capacity. The close proximity of both facilities
ensures secure, uninterrupted communication between systems and supports rapid analysis of
large volumes of information. The Passenger Information Monitoring and Management center is
scheduled for inauguration on 26 November 2025, marking an important milestone for Angola’s
border modernization efforts.
“Governments across Africa are accelerating digitalization to keep pace with rising travel
demand, and Angola is taking clear steps in leading the way,” said Pedro Alves, SVP of
Borders at SITA. “Angola is showing how border authorities can lead the way into a more
digital and connected future. When countries combine Advance Passenger Information and
Passenger Name Record capabilities with a national Passenger Information Monitoring and
Management center, they create an operational model that others in the industry can learn from.
It reduces risks for airlines and authorities, improves predictability at the border, and supports
the kind of seamless experience passengers now expect. This is the direction the global travel
industry is moving toward, and Angola is putting the right digital foundations in place to be part
of that future.”
These investments contribute to Angola’s broader ambition to become a major global transport
hub. The new Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport can handle up to 15 million
passengers a year and is linked to extensive road, rail, and port infrastructure, strengthening
national and regional connectivity. Visa free entry for citizens of 98 countries, including 14 in
Africa, is also attracting more visitors, while international platforms such as CNN Travel have
highlighted Angola’s landscapes and cultural heritage.
By adopting SITA’s API PNR Gateway and investing in its national Passenger Information
Monitoring and Management center, Angola is putting in place the digital border infrastructure
needed to support secure travel, economic development, and its vision of becoming a globally
connected transport hub.
