Travel policies, technology, and traveler expectations continue to shift as the industry heads into the final months of 2026. Here are four developments travel managers should have on their radar, including updates from TSA, Congress, the State Department, and the latest GBTA industry outlook.
TSA is launching Gateside by TSA PreCheck, a new program that allows eligible PreCheck members without airline tickets to pass through security and access gate areas at select U.S. airports. Participants must apply online one to three days in advance, receive approval, and present acceptable identification; the free passes are valid for one day and are initially available at 13 airports, with expansion planned.
The bipartisan Quiet Skies Act (H.R. 9530) advanced out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by voice vote on September 15, moving the legislation closer to consideration by the full House. The bill would require the Department of Transportation to issue a final rule within 180 days of enactment prohibiting certain cellphone voice calls on commercial flights, following a similar directive Congress enacted in 2018 that has yet to be finalized.
The measure comes as faster in-flight connectivity makes voice and video calling technically easier; groups including the Global Business Travel Association have backed keeping U.S. commercial cabins free of voice calls.
The State Department is developing a more streamlined passport system that would make it easier for Americans to take and upload their own passport photos from a phone or computer. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the planned process would use built-in facial recognition to verify identity in real time, reducing the need to visit a pharmacy or other location for a passport photo, although photos would still need to meet federal requirements. Passport applicants must submit an original, unchanged photo and should not use phone apps, computer software, filters, retouching tools, or AI to alter the image.
Business travel confidence has rebounded sharply, with 63% of respondents to GBTA’s September 2026 poll optimistic about the industry’s outlook over the next 12 months, up from 41% in April. Buyers are also expecting stronger travel activity, with 45% anticipating more trips and 56% expecting higher travel spend, although rising costs and geopolitical uncertainty remain significant concerns shaping program decisions.
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