Since 2010, new trends have emerged in the global use of passenger name record (PNR) data. The EU has adopted new legislative instruments on data protection and PNR. The Court of Justice has issued relevant jurisprudence. This Communication will take stock of these developments and will set out an external policy on the transfer of PNR data to third countries, fit for the current context. It will replace the 2010 global approach to PNR data transfers, which became obsolete.