British Airways is dropping gendered greetings on its flights as airlines increasingly recognize the diversity of genders among passengers.
The company plans to drop the phrase “ladies and gentlemen” in favor of the more inclusive “everyone,” as The Sunday Telegraph was the first to report. A spokesperson for British Airways told the U.K. newspaper that the change is intended to ensure guests who identify as nonbinary or genderfluid don’t feel alienated by the use of language that reinforces the gender binary.
“We celebrate diversity and inclusion and we’re committed to ensuring that all our customers feel welcome when traveling with us,” the representative claimed.
Others to adopt gender-neutral language include Japan Airlines, Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, and Air Malta. Air Malta now addresses fliers with the message, “Attention, all passengers.”
In 2019, Airlines for America in the USA and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged companies to allow prospective fliers to choose gender options like “unspecified” or “undisclosed.”
Calls to make the flying experience safer and more affirming for nonbinary travelers are likely to intensify when the Biden administration officially unveils its “X” passport marker. In June, the State Department promised that a nonbinary passport option would be available by the end of the year.
Several countries already allow a third gender marker on passports, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
