Airlines are planning to change their reservation systems to give passengers who don’t identify as male or female another option when booking flights. Several US carriers said they’re in the process of adding new gender choices, in an effort to be more inclusive and to make it easier for passengers whose documents list a gender other than male or female to supply their personal information. The TSA said its Secure Flight screening program will accept M for male, F for female, or “any other gender code character included on a valid Govt-issued ID.” The gender field can’t be left blank or listed as unknown. Two industry trade groups—A4A and the IATA—recently adopted a new standard to accommodate people with non-binary gender identification. <br/>
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Both the EU and the UK have announced measures designed to smooth air transport connections in the event of the UK departing the bloc in 6 weeks’ time without a deal. A distinct difference in attitude toward this situation was evident in the two camps’ Feb. 15 announcements; the EU talked of “severe disruption” to air connectivity in the event of no deal being agreed, while the UK, giving an update on security measures for air passengers and cargo traveling to and from the EU, emphasised that the status quo on security would largely be maintained. The EU added that a special provision would ensure the right to continue to provide scheduled flights under public service obligations until Oct 26, 2019, to ensure their continuity while national authorities adapted to the new situation. <br/>
Pertamina, Indonesia’s state-owned energy company, reduced the price of jet fuel sold at the nation’s airports after president Joko Widodo ordered a review following complaints about high air fares blamed on soaring fuel costs. The retailer lowered the price of fuel sold at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta by 3% to US$.56 from Saturday. The price of aviation fuel in Jakarta is about 26$ lower than Singapore’s Changi airport, Pertamina said. Indonesian airlines agreed to lower prices last month by as much as 60% in some routes in response to a backlash over a surge in ticket prices during the peak holiday season. Widodo said he plans to summon Pertamina executives to explain their prices, adding the govt may allow private companies to enter the market if the monopoly retailer was unable to lower prices to a global level. <br/>