How aviation can be a frontline defence against human trafficking

Aviation has long been celebrated as an engine of connection, trade and opportunity and every day, millions of people cross borders in search of work, education, safety and new beginnings.

But did you know that unknown to many, it is the same networks that make global mobility possible, that are now becoming increasingly exploited by criminal syndicates moving trafficking victims across continents. The systems criminals exploit can also become powerful tools for prevention and protection. 

Working together, airlines, airports, governments and international partners can help transform aviation from a corridor of exploitation into one of the world's strongest lines of defence.

Human trafficking has evolved dramatically, especially in the recent years. No longer confined to clandestine border crossings, today's traffickers recruit victims through fake job advertisements, social media and online scams, then move them through legitimate travel routes into forced labour and other criminal enterprises.

Increasingly, victims find themselves trapped in scam compounds, where promises of employment quickly give way to exploitation.

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime's 2024 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, detected victims rose 25 percent in 2022 versus 2019, with forced labour cases up 47 percent and child victims up 31 percent.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimates nearly 80 percent of international trafficking journeys pass through official border crossings, underscoring that airports and airlines are uniquely positioned to identify risks and support interventions before exploitation deepens.

As the world marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons under the theme "Trapped Behind the Scam," aviation has an opportunity to strengthen its role in combating this evolving crime.

Every check-in counter, boarding gate and cabin crew interaction is a potential moment to recognise vulnerability, respond appropriately and connect those at risk with support.

Encouragingly, examples across the industry show what is possible when aviation embraces this responsibility. In March 2023, Kenya Airways (KQ) became the first airline globally to adopt a dedicated Counter Trafficking in Persons Policy, a landmark achievement that set a new standard for the aviation industry's response to human trafficking.

Developed in partnership with UNODC, the policy positioned KQ as an early leader in the fight against human trafficking, establishing a practical and scalable model for airline action.

By embedding prevention, detection, reporting and victim-support measures into its operations, Kenya Airways helped demonstrate how aviation can play a critical role in combating trafficking, contributing to growing industry momentum that has seen counter-trafficking become an increasingly important priority for airlines worldwide.

A year later, it deepened that commitment through a strategic partnership with the International Organization for Migration Kenya to enhance victim protection, promote safe migration pathways and build staff capacity.

These partnerships have translated into practical action. Between February and April 2025, Kenya Airways supported a multi-agency effort alongside HAART Kenya, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, the Counter Trafficking in Persons Secretariat and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to repatriate 158 victims rescued from scam compounds in Myanmar, demonstrating what is possible when governments, humanitarian organisations and the aviation sector work toward a common goal.

As criminal networks grow more sophisticated, so too must our collective response. First, the industry should keep investing in frontline training so staff can recognise trafficking indicators and respond safely.

Second, there is an opportunity to deepen partnerships between airlines, airports, governments, UN agencies, law enforcement and civil society; strong referral pathways, coordinated protocols and trusted information-sharing can significantly strengthen victim protection.

Third, stakeholders must keep disrupting the financial and digital ecosystems enabling trafficking, as recruitment moves online and networks rely on cyber-enabled fraud and illicit financial flows.

Continued investment in safe migration pathways, responsible labour recruitment, survivor support services and cross-border cooperation will further reduce the vulnerabilities traffickers seek to exploit. Lasting progress comes from prevention, protection and prosecution working hand in hand.

As Kenya Airways prepares to mark five decades of connecting Africa to the world, our experience reinforces a simple lesson, that aviation's greatest contribution is not only moving people safely but helping ensure they are never moved into exploitation.

On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the aviation industry has an opportunity to redefine its role. By strengthening partnerships, investing in frontline capability and working collaboratively across borders, airlines and airports can become an integral part of the global response to human trafficking.

Hellen Mathuka is the Kenya Airways Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer