Key facts
- The US Transportation Department closed a privacy review of 10 major US airlines.
- No enforcement actions were taken against the airlines.
- Airlines were advised against using individual-specific data for pricing.
- Senator Ron Wyden criticized the DOT's decision, citing evidence of privacy abuses.
The U.S. Transportation Department has closed a review into the privacy practices of the 10 largest US airlines without seeking any enforcement actions. The review was initiated during the administration of then President Joe Biden.
In a memo seen by Reuters, the department also advised US airlines to refrain from setting prices based on individual-specific data. Senator Ron Wyden, who had urged the USDOT in August to address privacy concerns, expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome. "DOT claims that merely having a privacy policy and training is good enough, despite clear evidence of privacy abuses," Wyden stated.