FlightAware sues Kalshi over flight cancellation data misuse

FlightAware, the widely used flight-tracking data provider, has filed a federal lawsuit against prediction market platform Kalshi, alleging the company misused its proprietary data and branding to power controversial flight cancellation contracts. The suit, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, adds another layer of legal trouble to a platform already facing an aggressive crackdown from New York State. The complaint centers on claims of breach of contract, trademark infringement, and unfair competition. FlightAware says Kalshi violated a prior agreement that explicitly prohibited the use of its data for gambling purposes, then went ahead and used FlightAware’s name and data anyway to settle event contracts tied to whether specific flights would be cancelled. How Kalshi’s flight cancellation markets fell apart Kalshi, a CFTC-regulated event-contract platform, launched flight cancellation markets in July 2026. The idea was straightforward: let users trade on whether a given flight would be cancelled. In theory, it could serve as a hedge for frequent travelers or airlines. In practice, it became a lightning rod for criticism almost immediately. The back...