Do I need to apply for ESTA if I fly through U.S. airspace?

Do I need to apply for an ESTA application if myflight passes through U.S. airspace?

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No. As long as the plane you are on is not landing in any continental United States territory, you do not require any ESTA authorisation (or visa) as you won’t be passing through U.S. customs and immigration or setting foot on U.S. soil. This rule generally applies to flying through any nation’s airspace. The only time you would need an ESTA is if you were landing on U.S. soil, even if it’s just for a stop-over. You can have a look at this page for more information on stop-overs.
However, if an airplane is passing, or potentially passing, through U.S. airspace, then the U.S. government requires travellers to provide information about themselves. This forms part of Secure Flight, an enhanced security check for passengers, and involves the United States being provided with:
  • Your full name as it appears on your passport
  • Your date of birth
  • Your gender
  • If applicable, your redress number (a number provided to passengers by which, if they believe they have been improperly or unfairly delayed or prohibited from boarding an aircraft, to seek resolution and avoid future delays).
Secure Flight Passenger Data (SFPD) information is used to conduct watchlist matching of passenger information against the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) for all flights that fly over the continental United States, and is important for Homeland Security to prevent any people in the ‘No fly list’ from entering U.S. airspace. This means that SFPD information will be required for travellers flying to or from Canada, Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. This information would need to be submitted at least 72 hours before your departure.
If you have provided your full Advance Passenger Information (API) while booking a flight, however, then the airline will provide the required personal details for you. This is just the information which you would have supplied when you bought your ticket. This system has been adopted by the US, most EU states, and a number of other countries. Airlines generally ask for this information during the booking stage or occasionally during check-in.
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Written by Abisola Fikayomi

Abisola is an accomplished writer interested in US Travel, immigration, passports and visas. She’s passionate about exploring new places and cultures and willing to share her experiences, expertize and findings with others. That is her primary drive for specialising in this industry.

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