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American Airlines joins Blue Lightning Initiative to combat human trafficking

American Airlines joins Blue Lightning Initiative to combat human trafficking
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American Airlines has announced an expansion of its efforts to combat human trafficking by joining the Blue Lightning Initiative. This initiative, a collaboration with the US Department of Transportation and the US Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection, focuses on training airline personnel to identify potential traffickers and victims.

Gary Tomasulo, American Airlines Vice President of Corporate Security, emphasized the importance of this initiative in fighting human trafficking. "American has long partnered with law enforcement to help fight human trafficking, and we are proud to deepen our partnership by joining the initiative," he stated.

The airline's involvement in anti-trafficking efforts is not new. In 2020, American Airlines became a signatory of Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking through a DOT initiative. Before joining the Blue Lightning Initiative, it was part of the Blue Campaign under DHS's Center for Countering Human Trafficking.

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American Airlines already trains over 70,000 team members annually on recognizing signs of human trafficking. The Blue Lightning Initiative will enhance this training for flight attendants, pilots, customer service representatives, and other staff.

With a fleet that includes more than 1,500 aircraft and operations spanning over 60 countries, American Airlines acknowledges its role in addressing human trafficking risks on international routes. In 2023 alone, it carried more than 210 million passengers.

The airline also supports various human rights partnerships like It's A Penalty and Protecting All Children from Trafficking (PACT). In 2024, American Airlines donated miles to these organizations and hosted awareness sessions at several major airports in collaboration with DHS or other partners.

Organizations Included in this History
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