ARINC Offers First ESTA Service Certified by U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Annapolis, Maryland—ARINC Incorporated today announced it has enhanced its ARINC Electronic Borders^TM security suite to include full compliance with new ESTA (Electronic System Travel Authorization) requirements of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Customs & Border Protection (DHS/CBP).

Effective January 12, 2009, it became a requirement for international travelers from 34 Visa Waiver Program countries to submit personal identification data electronically in advance of departure for the United States. Compliance with the new ESTA rules has become an operational concern for international airlines and the travel industry.

ARINC’s ESTA capability received full CBP certification in December, making the ARINC Electronic Borders suite the first security solution to offer airlines full access and compliance with immigration requirements of most nations through a single interface. 

“Airlines and aviation service providers can now satisfy a range of electronic data requirements from different governments with a single ARINC interface,” stated Yun Chong, ARINC Vice President, Aviation Network Solutions. “For airlines struggling with multiple international data requirements, ARINC Electronic Borders offers a unique solution. It makes today’s multiple mandates and message formats completely transparent to the user.” 

ARINC Electronic Borders is an immigration data service available to government agencies and airlines globally over the ARINC AviNet^® aviation network. The company currently provides immigration data services to Bermuda, Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, CARICOM, the Spanish Ministry, and the Government of Hong Kong.

ARINC Electronic Borders comprises four data functionalities: Advance Passenger Information Systems (APIS), Interactive APIS (AQQ), Passenger Name Record (PNR), and ESTA-compliant processing. These allow airlines and other passenger carriers such as cruise lines to meet immigration requirements world wide. 

With the addition of certified ESTA functionality, ARINC continues to provide the world travel industry with comprehensive network solutions and to provide government agencies with efficient support which meets a full range of data and security requirements.

ESTA requirements apply to citizens of Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

ARINC Incorporated, a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, provides communications, engineering and integration solutions for commercial, defense and government customers worldwide. Headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland with regional headquarters in London and Singapore, ARINC is ISO 9001:2008 certified. 

Release: 09-005

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