Air Italy claims to be the first airline in Europe to introduce a non-binary gender option for passengers booking flights.
Travellers will be able to select M (male), F (female) or X (other), to correspond with gender-neutral passports that are issued by some countries.
The move follows Iata last year approving changes to booking procedures to include non-binary gender options.
Air Italy has also added Mx to its online dropdown menu of titles for those who do not wish to define themselves with binary gender options, and is working on other inclusivity initiatives.
Chief operating officer Rossen Dimitrovsaid: “Air Italy is determined to lead the industry in inclusivity, and we are so proud to be the first European airline to offer these inclusive booking options for our customers.
“Air Italy’s brand tagline is ‘Imagine the world differently’. Within this is a vision that embraces every manifestation of freedom, inclusion, the acceptance of diversity and striving for progress.
“Our introduction of non-binary options on our website is therefore another demonstration of these important values.”
Gabriele Piazzoni, general secretary of Italy’s largest gay organisation, said: “The decision of a first-tier airline like Air Italy to invest resources and time to focus on inclusivity, is a positive example that we hope is followed by others.
“The civil progress of a country depends not only on its laws, but also by the way in which the private sector puts in place anti-discrimination initiatives that take into consideration the many differences that exist.”
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