The Beijing Capital International Airport will follow the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), requiring international airlines heading to China to provide basic information about their passengers and crew members on board.

The Beijing News reported that airlines need to provide the Beijing border security department with data elements, such as full name, gender, date of birth, nationality, travel document type and travel document number (expiry date and country of issue for passport).

The information must be transferred to the border security department through an exclusive network as soon as the international flight takes off.

The city's border security department, the Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, will receive such required information two hours before the international flight arrives in Beijing. The move is aimed at making customs clearance more efficient.

Airliners that did not follow the procedures, which take effect on July 1, will face a penalty of at least 10,000 yuan, the report said.

(CRI July 1, 2008)