GBTA Global Advocacy Newsletter – February 2026

Welcome back to the thrilling world of global travel policy - where acronyms multiply, deadlines move, and "temporary measures" develop impressive staying power. This overview walks through the latest regulatory adventures shaping business travel on both sides of the Atlantic: tighter ESTA requirements, evolving EU tourism strategies, border systems that may or may not be fully operational depending on the week, new payment authentication rules, a proposed UK visitor levy, U.S. budget brinkmanship affecting TSA, and a dose of optimism in the form of sustainable aviation fuel legislation. In other words: it's a calm, quiet year. (Kidding, it is only February!)

From expanded ESTA data fields - because apparently what international travel really needed was more data entry - to EU border rollout pauses designed to prevent summer airport scenes that resemble music festivals without the music, policymakers are busy. Meanwhile, payment regulations are redefining what counts as "non-digital" in a digital world, the UK is exploring how to tax visitors (but hopefully not business mobility), and U.S. funding negotiations are once again testing the concept of "essential workforce." On the brighter side, Sustainable Aviation Fuel legislation is advancing, offering a rare moment where climate ambition and aviation competitiveness are rowing in the same direction.

Through it all, GBTA remains actively engaged - meeting with officials, shaping dialogue in Brussels, educating lawmakers in Washington, and advocating for practical solutions that keep business travel secure, sustainable, and, ideally, somewhat predictable. Consider this your guide to what's changing, why it matters, and where we're working to keep business travel moving - without requiring a new tax code, biometric update, or authentication protocol every quarter.

And as you are reading, listen along to the selected songs for each topic. I went heavy on rock, country and grunge this month. That is just who I personally am.