Airlines Gear Up to Take on Human Trafficking
Australia’s Sky meets the fight against modern slavery. On June 4, 2018, IATA’s annual meeting in Sydney spurred a new wave of action: crews will become the “eyes and ears” for spotting trafficking on flights. The airline world, long accused of being part of this growing crime network, finally has a playbook.
Why the Race Is On
- Human trafficking is the fastest‑growing criminal industry worldwide—only second to the drug trade, according to the US State Department.
- Nearly 60 % of cases involve crossing international borders, per the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
- Recent research links trafficking to terrorism threats in aviation. Stopping the trade could help keep the skies safer.
IATA’s Fresh Toolkit
New guidelines drop a handy checklist for crew on how to flag possible victims and act when they land. The tool sets procedures for:
- Spotting odd behaviours during long-haul flights.
- Coordinating with airports, customs, and border police.
- Ensuring victims get the right support once they reach the ground.
Tim Colehan, IATA’s assistant director for external affairs, said it’s no longer a “one‑airline” job. “Many carriers already run anti‑trafficking programs, but we didn’t have a unified industry push—until now.”
Training, Legislation, & Global Movement
Portfolios of new laws are urging airlines to give cabin crew special training. The goal? Make crews the front‑line defense—lessening trafficking routes that might double as smuggling channels for weapons or luxury goods.
Where Trafficking Trips Are Heading
UNODC pinpoints big flows: sub‑Saharan Africa → Middle East, Europe, and the Pacific; South Asia → Middle East, East Asia, and the Pacific. These routes are hotbeds for prostitution, child soldier indoctrination, organ transplant scams, forced labour, debt bondage, and forced marriage.
With the ILO estimating 25 million modern slavery victims, every seat on a plane could be a witness to a crisis. The new guidelines aim to turn passengers into unintentional activists—one careful eyeblink at a weary traveler’s eye might be the difference between freedom and bondage.
Takeaway
Airlines now have a clear mission: turn the invisible needle of trafficking into a visible thread that crews can thread through with vigilance. The next time you hop on a flight, remember, you’re not just traveling—you’re part of a global watch that could save lives.
