NAIROBI, Kenya – Human trafficking continues to be a serious human rights violation and a significant international problem. To move their victims across borders covertly, traffickers frequently take advantage of commercial aviation.
news9.africa understands that people can move about safely and effectively thanks to air travel, and the aviation industry has a duty to shield vulnerable passengers from abuse.
Acknowledging this, Kenya Airways has moved decisively to support ICAO’s Strategic Goals, particularly the organisation’s initiatives to stop human trafficking via aviation.
Kenya Airways Security Department’s Manager of Quality Control and Integrity, Adelaide Amaro, an accomplished aviation security professional with over 30 years of experience, said KQ’s efforts reflect the growing commitment of airlines, regulators, and international partners to strengthen the protective capabilities of the global air transportation system.
“Kenya Airways is proud to be at the forefront of this fight, aligning our strategies with the standards and recommended practices of the ICAO, including Doc 10171: Manual on a Comprehensive Strategy for Combating Human Trafficking in the Aviation Sector and recent amendments to Annex 9 – Facilitation,” Adelaide explained.
From commitment to action: A policy-led approach
In March 2023, Kenya Airways became the first airline in Africa to adopt a dedicated Counter Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) Policy. Developed in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), this policy integrates counter-trafficking measures across its operational, training, and governance frameworks.
news9.africa has established that this policy fully aligns with ICAO’s recommended practices, which call on States and air operators to establish formal mechanisms to detect, prevent, and respond to trafficking in persons via air transport. It includes:
- Institutional training for frontline staff
- Reporting and escalation protocols
- Victim-sensitive response procedures
- Inter-agency cooperation and stakeholder engagement
Influencing global aviation standards
Kenya Airways’ leadership was demonstrated during a high-level meeting in Vienna in January 2024, where Adelaide disclosed that the national carrier engaged with senior officials from the UNODC and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
“Our model was presented as a best-practice framework for airlines seeking to operationalise anti-trafficking efforts,” Adelaide explained.
Following this, at the ICAO Facilitation Panel held in Montreal from 26 February to 1 March 2024, Kenya Airways’ recommendations contributed to the adoption of a new resolution mandating that all airlines develop and implement CTIP policies.
“This milestone reflects the evolution of ICAO provisions and reinforces the aviation sector’s commitment to human rights, passenger safety, and global cooperation,” Adelaide further said.
Strengthening international partnerships
As ICAO emphasises in its “Four Ps” framework: Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnership, the fight against trafficking requires coordinated, multi-sectoral collaboration.
In June 2024, Kenya Airways signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the first of its kind between IOM and an airline. The MoU outlines cooperation in:
- Victim identification and protection
- Staff training and capacity-building
- Humanitarian assistance and repatriation logistics
According to Adelaide, Kenya Airways remains an active signatory of the SkyTeam Anti-Human Trafficking Declaration, uniting with 18 member airlines to establish industry-wide protocols for awareness, detection, and intervention.
“Kenya Airways’ operational leadership was internationally recognised at the Behavioural Analysis Conference 2025 in Minneapolis, USA, where we were the only airline invited to present our aviation-integrated CTIP model alongside an inspirational group of professionals,” she further said.
Operational action and measurable impact
Between February and April 2025, Kenya Airways, in collaboration with Hope for African Americans and Rural Towns (HAART) Kenya, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, the Counter-Trafficking in Persons Secretariat, and law enforcement agencies, coordinated the safe repatriation of 158 victims trafficked to Myanmar.
news9.africa has also established that this operation highlights how commercial air transport can serve humanitarian objectives.
Building on this success, on 25 July 2025, Adelaide, who leads Kenya Airways’ Anti-Human Trafficking initiative and represents the airline in the SkyTeam Working Group on Anti-Human Trafficking, said the airline launched the first airline-led repatriation program to assist survivors trafficked from Southeast Asia to East Africa.
“Through fare subsidies and logistical support, we transformed our operational infrastructure into a platform for victim recovery and reintegration,” emphasised Adelaide.
In support of its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, Kenya Airways also contributes to survivor recovery through donations of repurposed Business Class blankets to shelters and NGOs – a small gesture with meaningful impact.
As it moves forward, Kenya Airways is committed to:
- Deepening staff training programmes
- Expanding inter-agency partnerships
- Advocating for policy development at the global level
- Supporting survivors through integrated assistance
“We urge our aviation partners to join this movement, not just in spirit but in operational reality. Airlines must not only fly across borders; they must also help protect those most vulnerable within them,” stated Adelaide.
Together with ICAO’s leadership, Kenya Airways has moved to ensure the aviation industry remains a powerful force for security, dignity, and human rights.
Discussion about this post