Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific has responded to an investigation by Forbes, denying claims it records passengers using onboard seat cameras and keeps the footage.
However, the airline has admitted it uses other cameras in planes and airports to record videos of customers and has not denied retaining those videos.
A Cathay Pacific spokesperson has told Newshub their use of CCTV cameras was in-line with industry standards to protect staff and customers.
"There are CCTV cameras installed in our airport lounges and onboard aircraft (one camera, positioned near the cockpit door) for security purposes. All images are handled sensitively with strict access controls. There are no CCTV cameras installed in the lavatories," the spokesperson said.
"Our inflight entertainment systems do not have any cameras, microphones or sensors to monitor passengers, nor have they in the past."
A copy of Cathay Pacific's new privacy policy on the company's website says it retains information in relation to "use of our inflight entertainment system and inflight connectivity, your images captured via CCTV in our airport lounges and aircraft."
Earlier this year, Singapore Airlines was also accused of monitoring passengers using seat back cameras located, but the airline claimed the cameras weren't wired up or connected in any way.
Newshub.
