Following its October 15 announcement that foreign visitors who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be able to travel to the US starting November 8, the US State Department has added further guidance on and "very limited exceptions" to the new policy, including both passenger and airline requirements:

Click "Read More" for additional information about the new policy.

The US has issued its first passport with an "X" designation, and expects to be able to offer the option to nonbinary, intersex, and gender-nonconforming people early next year, the State Department said last week. USA Today reports the announcement comes following a six-year legal battle involving a former member of the US Navy who was denied a passport due to a refusal to choose "female" or "male" on the application. In addition to adding "X" as an option, the US State Department has also declared that applicants may now self-select their gender as male or female, regardless of what may be listed on documents such as birth certificates, previous passports, or state ID. "Today, the US finally catches up with other countries around the world that have already seen gender-neutral passports in use for years...Intersex, nonbinary, and transgender people need identity documents that accurately reflect who we are, and having mismatched documents can create problems with safety and visibility," says Rapid Response Manager Mary Emily O'Hara of the LGBTQ media advocacy organization GLAAD.

Delta Air Lines has announced the rollout of their new Delta-TSA PreCheck express lobby and bag drop, starting this month at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). Travelers who have both the Fly Delta app and a TSA PreCheck membership will be able to check their baggage, pass through security checkpoints, and board their plane at the gate "using only their 'digital identity' (made up of a customer's SkyMiles Member number, passport number, and Known Traveler Number)" and facial recognition scans. In addition to cutting wait times by an average of more than two minutes, the system allows for a fully self-serviced, "hands- and device-free" experience. Delta is the first and only airline to build a dedicated bag drop space for TSA PreCheck customers, with the city of Detroit next in line to implement the new processes.

London's Gatwick Airport (LGW) in the UK has become the fourth airport to partner with technology firm Veovo to deploy their Passenger Predictability solution, reports Airport Technology. Veovo's program relies on artificial intelligence (AI) which grants airports the ability to "learn from the past, predict the future, and make more informed decisions" regarding the overall passenger-airport experience. The system enables existing security devices (i.e., cameras) to integrate with new Internet of things (IoT) sensors and data sources, providing airport staff access to metrics like wait times, occupancy, and passenger throughput - ultimately yielding "smoother journeys" for all travelers. Gatwick joins Manchester (MAN), Newark (EWR), and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) in the adoption of Veovo's technology solution.

On November 2, American Express GBT successfully completed the acquisition of Egencia, the leading digital travel management platform. As part of the transaction, Expedia Group has become a shareholder in GBT. Similar to the Ovation acquisition, Egencia will retain its brand and continue to be managed by its current leadership team. It's an exciting time to be part of the GBT family and we look forward to leading the travel industry into a new era of sustainable travel that is a force for good. Click "Read More" to learn further details about the acquisition.