As Signature Aviation prepares to welcome thousands of football fans, celebrities and VIPs to its private aviation terminal in Las Vegas this week, the company is doing more than delivering exceptional hospitality. It’s also working to protect those impacted by human trafficking.

“Signature is the largest network of private aviation terminals in the world, which gives us a unique opportunity to help combat human trafficking,” said Tony Lefebvre, CEO of Signature. “The International Organization for Migration has stated that nearly 80% of international human trafficking journeys cross through official border control points, including airports. That makes this an incredibly important and relevant issue for us, and one where we have the ability to make a tangible difference.”

The company is taking a multi-faceted approach. It is collaborating with other leaders to counter human trafficking, as well as to ensure its own global workforce is well trained to identify and report suspicious activity. Signature has:

• Signed the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) “Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking” (TLAHT) pledge to join fellow transportation organizations in educating employees, raising public awareness and tracking impact metrics.
• Joined the DOT and U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Lightning Initiative, which trains aviation personnel to identify potential traffickers and human trafficking victims, and to report their suspicions to federal law enforcement.
• Partnered with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) to develop a supplemental training curriculum and materials customized for those working in general and business aviation.
• Become the first corporate sponsor of the Freedom Aviation Network (FAN), a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide safe, efficient and rapid air transportation for survivors of human trafficking to help them reach safety. FAN has completed 85 flights and transported over 100 passengers since 2022 and Signature’s support will help further their efforts.  
• Joined as a corporate sponsor of Covenant House, a non-profit that provides immediate and long-term support for young people facing homelessness and the impacts of human trafficking. As a Caring Partner to Covenant House, Signature is offering our team members opportunities for virtual and in-person volunteering, as well as additional anti-human trafficking training.

“Private aviation operators are on the frontlines of the fight to end human trafficking,” said Michael Camal, Senior Engagement Manager, U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking. “We are grateful that Signature is leveraging its vast resources and global workforce to combat this heinous crime. Their unique perspective will help BLI strengthen and expand our anti-trafficking resources for the private aviation industry.”

While the football season may be coming to an end for this year, Signature understands that human trafficking will continue unless organizations and individuals come together to stop it. “We know from our involvement in the Blue Lightning Initiative that in order for people to report human trafficking, they first have to recognize it,” notes Lefebvre. “At Signature, we’re working to make sure our team members recognize when something may not be right so they know what to do in these critical situations. With that knowledge, each of us can be part of the solution to protect the most vulnerable among us.”