The US administration is pressing the 27 governments of the European
Union to sign up for a range of new security measures for
transatlantic travel, including allowing armed guards on all flights
from Europe to America by US airlines.

The demand to put armed air marshals on to the flights is part of a
travel clampdown by the Bush administration that officials in Brussels
described as "blackmail" and "troublesome", and could see west
Europeans and Britons required to have US visas if their governments
balk at Washington's requirements.

According to a US document being circulated for signature in European
capitals, EU states would also need to supply personal data on all air
passengers overflying but not landing in the US in order to gain or
retain visa-free travel to America, senior EU officials said.

And within months the US department of homeland security is to impose
a new permit system for Europeans flying to the US, compelling all
travellers to apply online for permission to enter the country before
booking or buying a ticket, a procedure that will take several days.

The data from the US's new electronic transport authorisation system
is to be combined with extensive personal passenger details already
being provided by EU countries to the US for the "profiling" of
potential terrorists and assessment of other security risks.

Washington is also asking European airlines to provide personal data
on non-travellers - for example family members - who are allowed
beyond departure barriers to help elderly, young or ill passengers to
board aircraft flying to America, a demand the airlines reject as
"absurd". ...

From http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/11/usa.theairlineindustry/print