Key Takeaways
• Since June 2024, ARC sells U.S. domestic flight passenger data to DHS for $11,025 until 2029.
• TIP database stores over one billion records from third-party ticket purchases, searchable by multiple criteria.
• Federal agencies access this data without warrants, sparking privacy and civil liberties concerns.
A major privacy issue has come to light in the United States 🇺🇸, revealing that several of the country’s largest airlines have been quietly selling detailed passenger flight data to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This secret arrangement, which began in June 2024 and is set to continue until 2029, involves the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC)—a data broker owned by major airlines—selling U.S. travelers’ domestic flight records to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a division of DHS. The news, uncovered through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, has sparked widespread concern about privacy, government surveillance, and the rights of travelers.
What Happened: Airlines, ARC, and DHS
The core of this story centers on a little-known but powerful organization: the Airlines Reporting Corporation. ARC is owned by at least eight major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta, United, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue, and Air Canada 🇨🇦. ARC’s main job is to handle ticket settlements between airlines and travel agencies, but it also collects a vast amount of passenger data in the process.
In June 2024, ARC began selling this data to CBP, giving the government access to a massive database called the Travel Intelligence Program (TIP). This database contains over one billion records collected over a 39-month period and is updated daily with new ticket sales. The data includes:
- Passenger names
- Full flight itineraries
- Financial details from passengers
This means that every time someone buys a plane ticket through a third-party travel agency like Expedia or Booking.com, their information could end up in this government database.
How the Data Sharing Works
The TIP database is enormous and detailed. It includes:
- Over one billion records spanning 39 months
- Daily updates with new ticket sales
- Data from both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. persons
- Searchable by name, airline, and credit card
However, it’s important to note that only tickets purchased through third-party travel agencies are included. If you buy your ticket directly from an airline’s website or ticket counter, your data is not part of this database.
Federal agencies like CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can access this data without a warrant. There is little oversight or transparency about how this access is used, which has raised serious concerns among privacy advocates.
Secrecy and Contract Details
One of the most troubling aspects of this arrangement is the secrecy built into the contract between ARC and CBP. The contract specifically forbids the government from revealing ARC as the source of the data. The contract states:
“[CBP agrees to] not publicly identify vendor, or its employees, individually or collectively, as the source of the Reports unless the Customer is compelled to do so by a valid court order or subpoena and gives ARC immediate notice of same.”
This clause shows that the airlines and ARC were aware that the public might react negatively if they found out about this data sharing. By keeping the arrangement secret, they avoided public scrutiny and possible backlash from travelers.
Cost and Duration of the Deal
Despite the massive amount of personal data involved, the government paid a surprisingly small amount for access. According to documents obtained by 404 Media, CBP purchased access to the Travel Intelligence Program for just $11,025. The contract started in June 2024 and will last until 2029, giving the government five years of continuous access to passenger data.
Why the Government Wants This Data
The Department of Homeland Security says it needs this data to help law enforcement agencies identify people of interest and track their air travel within the United States 🇺🇸. CBP claims that having access to this information helps them keep the country safe by monitoring the movements of individuals who may be involved in criminal or terrorist activities.
However, the lack of transparency and oversight has led many to question whether this level of surveillance is justified, especially when it involves the personal information of millions of ordinary travelers.
Privacy and Civil Liberties Concerns
Privacy experts and civil liberties groups have reacted strongly to this news. Edward Hasbrouck, a well-known expert in travel data privacy, called the TIP database “probably the single most significant aggregated repository of data about American air travelers.” He emphasized that the government’s access to this database is “a very big deal.”
Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said the program appears to have “flown by and below the radar.” He questioned why ARC is “turning into a side business of selling data about people’s travels to the Trump administration.”
Civil liberties advocates are especially worried about:
- Lack of transparency: Most travelers have no idea their data is being shared.
- No oversight: There are few rules about how the data can be used.
- No consent: Passengers did not agree to have their information sold to the government.
These concerns are not just theoretical. The ability to track people’s movements so closely can have real consequences, especially for immigrants, activists, journalists, and anyone who values their privacy.
Which Airlines Are Involved?
The Airlines Reporting Corporation is owned by several major airlines, with representatives from the following carriers on its board:
- Air Canada 🇨🇦
- Air France
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Delta
- JetBlue
- Lufthansa
- Southwest
- United
In total, more than 240 airlines depend on ARC for ticket settlement services. This means that the data of millions of travelers, both U.S. citizens and visitors from other countries, could be included in the TIP database.
How Does This Affect Travelers?
For most travelers, this news is both surprising and concerning. Many people assume that their travel information is private, or at least only shared with the airline and necessary government agencies for security reasons. The idea that airlines are selling detailed flight and financial information to the government, without telling passengers, raises several issues:
- Loss of privacy: Your travel history, including where you go and when, is now accessible to federal agencies.
- Financial data exposure: Details about how you paid for your ticket are also included.
- No way to opt out: If you buy a ticket through a third-party agency, your data is automatically included.
- Potential for misuse: Without oversight, there’s a risk that this information could be used for purposes beyond what was originally intended.
Travelers who are immigrants, refugees, or have sensitive personal situations may feel especially vulnerable knowing that their movements are being tracked so closely.
Airlines’ Role and Responsibility
The airlines involved have not made public statements about the arrangement, and the secrecy clause in the contract suggests they hoped to keep it that way. By selling data through ARC, the airlines are able to profit from passenger information while avoiding direct responsibility for how that data is used.
This approach raises ethical questions about the role of airlines in protecting customer privacy. Should airlines be allowed to sell passenger data to the government without informing their customers? What responsibilities do they have to be transparent about how they handle personal information?
Public and Political Reaction
The story broke on June 10, 2025, and has already led to strong reactions from the public and lawmakers. At least one U.S. senator has criticized domestic airlines for working with what they called a “shady data broker.” Many people are comparing this situation to other recent cases where companies sold personal data without customer consent.
For example, last year, several major car companies—including General Motors, Hyundai, and Honda—were found to be selling driving data from millions of vehicles to insurance companies for as little as 26 cents per car. These cases highlight a growing trend of companies profiting from customer data, often without clear consent or transparency.
Broader Context: Government Data Collection
This revelation is part of a larger debate about government data collection in the United States 🇺🇸. The federal government already has several ways to access flight data:
- CBP requires airlines to provide passenger records for every flight that passes through the United States 🇺🇸.
- Federal law enforcement, including the FBI, has previously accessed passenger data through travel agencies’ reservation systems.
However, the ARC database gives federal agencies access to information they cannot get through other means. This includes detailed records of domestic flights purchased through third-party agencies, which may not be included in other government databases.
Implications for Immigrants and Other Stakeholders
The impact of this arrangement is especially important for immigrants, international students, and others who may already feel under scrutiny by government agencies. Knowing that their travel data is being collected and shared without their knowledge can create fear and uncertainty.
Employers who sponsor foreign workers, families with members traveling between countries, and students studying abroad may also be affected. They may need to consider how their travel plans and ticket purchases could expose them to government monitoring.
For airlines, this situation could damage trust with customers. If travelers feel their privacy is not being respected, they may choose to book directly with airlines or look for other ways to protect their information.
What Can Travelers Do?
If you are concerned about your travel data being shared with the government, there are a few steps you can take:
- Buy tickets directly from airlines: The TIP database only includes tickets purchased through third-party travel agencies. Buying directly from the airline may keep your data out of this particular database.
- Read privacy policies: Check the privacy policies of both airlines and travel agencies to see how your data is handled.
- Ask questions: If you are unsure about how your information is used, contact the airline or travel agency for clarification.
- Stay informed: Follow news updates and official government announcements about data privacy and travel.
For more information on how the Department of Homeland Security handles personal data, you can visit the official DHS Privacy Office page.
Calls for Oversight and Reform
As reported by VisaVerge.com, privacy advocates are calling for greater oversight and transparency in how airlines and the government handle passenger data. Some experts suggest that new laws or regulations may be needed to protect travelers’ privacy and ensure that data sharing is done responsibly.
Lawmakers may push for:
- Clear consent requirements: Making sure travelers know when their data is being shared.
- Stronger oversight: Creating independent bodies to monitor how data is used.
- Limits on data use: Restricting how government agencies can use travel data.
The Role of Airlines Reporting Corporation
The Airlines Reporting Corporation plays a central role in this story. As a data broker owned by major airlines, ARC has access to a huge amount of passenger information. Its decision to sell this data to the government shows how powerful and influential such organizations can be.
ARC’s actions also highlight the need for clear rules about how data brokers operate, especially when they handle sensitive information like travel records and financial details.
Looking Ahead
This story is still developing, and it remains to be seen how airlines, government agencies, and lawmakers will respond. Travelers should be aware of how their information is being used and take steps to protect their privacy when possible.
The revelation that airlines, through ARC, have been selling detailed passenger data to the Department of Homeland Security raises important questions about privacy, transparency, and the responsibilities of both companies and government agencies. As more information comes to light, travelers, advocates, and policymakers will need to work together to find solutions that balance security needs with the right to privacy.
Key Takeaways
- Major U.S. airlines have been selling passenger data to DHS through ARC since June 2024.
- The data includes names, flight itineraries, and financial details, and is updated daily.
- Only tickets bought through third-party travel agencies are included in the TIP database.
- Federal agencies can access this data without a warrant, and there is little oversight.
- Privacy experts and civil liberties groups are calling for more transparency and stronger protections for travelers.
For travelers, the best immediate step is to buy tickets directly from airlines when possible and stay informed about how personal data is handled. As this issue gains more attention, it’s likely that new rules and protections will be discussed to address these serious privacy concerns.
Learn Today
Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) → A data broker owned by major airlines that handles ticket settlements and collects passenger data.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) → U.S. federal agency responsible for public security and immigration enforcement.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) → A DHS division managing border security and accessing traveler data for law enforcement.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) → A law allowing public access to government information, used to uncover this secret data sale.
Travel Intelligence Program (TIP) → A government database containing over one billion flight records purchased from ARC.
This Article in a Nutshell
Major U.S. airlines have been secretly selling detailed passenger flight data to DHS since June 2024. ARC, owned by top carriers, provides over a billion records in the Travel Intelligence Program. This undisclosed surveillance raises privacy concerns as government agencies access data without warrants via third-party ticket sales.
— By VisaVerge.com
