"Aviation is the business of freedom, flying 4 billion people to every corner of the earth last year alone. Some, however, try to use our networks nefariously. Trafficking in people creates misery for millions, and funds criminal gangs and terrorism. As a responsible industry, our members are determined to help authorities stamp out human trafficking,"
Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's Director General and CEO
Aviation and Human Trafficking
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), comprised of nearly 300 airlines from 120 nations, unanimously approved a resolution denouncing human trafficking and committing themselves to implementing anti-human trafficking training. The IATA has launched the #eyesopen human trafficking campaign which is modeled after the Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The BLI was developed by survivor advocates, law enforcement, and aviation experts to address the “FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016,” requiring air carriers to provide initial and annual flight attendant training regarding recognizing and responding to potential human trafficking victims
Airline personnel often represent the last line of detection and defense. Once these victims depart an airplane they disappear into the underworld of human trafficking. This reality only further increases the difficulty in the efforts to combat this heinous crime and rescue these victims from a life of bondage and abuse.
For more information about the Blue Campaign, visit www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign.