*****EDIT******
Please list as closed/resolved, I have discovered that after further testing and accidental key presses, that the elytra has been changed that you must press the space bar in midair to activate it as it no longer automatically activates.
******End EDIT *******

I believe the title explains the main issue at least, but lets revisit it anyways.
The elytra seems to no longer allow you to glide as it has in the previous updates, I have tested this in a private server as well as several single player worlds.
To test this I opened a single player world with commands(ie cheats) enabled, and using creative I obtained the elytra, and building a platform at 120 blocks high, switching to survival, then jumped and attempted to glide, which of course failed, and results in a fall straight down and death.