FlightAware sues Kalshi over use of flight data in cancellation bets

FlightAware, the flight-tracking company owned by RTX, has filed a lawsuit against prediction-market platform Kalshi in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The suit accuses Kalshi of using FlightAware's data and brand without authorization to settle contracts that let users bet on the number of flights cancelled at US airports during specific periods.

According to the filing, the dispute began in July 2026 when Kalshi disclosed to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission plans for cancellation-related contracts that would rely on FlightAware data, with US Department of Transportation figures as a backup source. FlightAware says it objected immediately, with parent company RTX stating that it had not authorized any prediction market to use data gathered through its tracking network for such purposes.

Kalshi reportedly paused the plan after the objections but later relaunched cancellation markets using FlightAware information, according to the lawsuit and other published accounts. FlightAware says it sent repeated cease-and-desist notices, but Kalshi continued referencing the company on its site, eventually adding a disclaimer clarifying that FlightAware was not affiliated with or endorsing the markets.

FlightAware is asking the court for a temporary restraining order and a permanent injunction barring Kalshi from using its data and trademark in connection with the contracts. The lawsuit also raises concerns that allowing people to profit financially from flight cancellations could create incentives to interfere with airline or airport operations in order to influence outcomes, according to the filing.