Travelport announced (30-May-2019) it will be ready to implement a new booking code for non-binary gender airline passengers when it goes live on 01-Jun-2019. The new code offers the option to choose "X", rather than "M" or "F", when a passenger is required to provide such advance passenger information. Key details include:
- Such information needs to be provided for customers travelling to or in transit to Algeria, Canada, China (except Hong Kong), Iran, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, South Africa, Spain, Syria, Thailand, the US and the UAE;
- The option to choose "X" will need to be matched with the passenger's passport or identity document. Argentina, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, India, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, Nepal, The Netherlands and Pakistan already offer an option other than "M" or "F" on passports - in most cases "X";
- X passports are approved by ICAO;
- Travelport has pledged to make the code available to all of the 480 airlines on its platform who choose to adopt it. A number of these, such as United, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have confirmed they are preparing to bring in the new code option. [more - original PR]