The new booking code will be available to all 480 airlines using Travelport’s platform from Saturday (1 June).

President and chief executive Gordon Wilson said he hoped airlines would adopt the code to ensure all customers “are fully respected and welcomed”.

Travelport’s code will offer X rather than just M and F when passengers are required to provide advance passenger information, a requirement of travel to, or transit via Algeria, Canada, China (except Hong Kong), Iran, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, South Africa, Spain, Syria, Thailand, USA and the United Arab Emirates.

The X option will need to match the passenger’s X passport or ID, or equivalent, with a number of country’s offering X passports approved by the International Civil Aviation Authority.

“As a company committed to diversity and promoting travel for all, we are delighted that the new code for nonbinary gender passengers has now been introduced,” said Wilson.

“We hope more airlines will provide this option to ensure their customers are fully respected and welcomed. For us ‘X’ marks a vote for diversity, dignity and respect.”