Aeroméxico, UNODC Launch B2B Human Trafficking Roadmap

Mexican flag carrier Aeroméxico and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have formally presented a comprehensive joint research initiative aimed at establishing a sector-wide roadmap for the prevention, identification, and eradication of human trafficking across Mexico’s travel and tourism industries.

Presented at a ceremony held at the Chapultepec Castle, the initiative unveiled two core publications: the study "Overview of Human Trafficking in Tourism in Mexico" (Panorama de la Trata de Personas en el Turismo en México) and an operational guide titled "ABC of Action for Personnel and Companies in the Tourism Sector" (ABC de Actuación para Personal y Empresas del Sector Turístico).

The landmark publications analyze for the first time the direct intersection between human trafficking networks and commercial tourism activities, focusing specifically on high-density destination hubs where social vulnerability and elevated visitor volumes collide: Mexico City, Cancún (Benito Juárez), and Puerto Vallarta.

High-Volume Corridors and Sector Vulnerabilities

Data compiled within the UNODC study highlights the scale of visitor traffic alongside structural risk factors in the primary focus areas:

• Mexico City: Recorded approximately 12 million visitors. Within the city, the Cuauhtémoc borough concentrated 52 percent of all human trafficking investigation files across the analyzed zones.
• Cancún (Benito Juárez, Quintana Roo): Recorded roughly 7 million tourist arrivals. The municipality concentrated 65.1 percent of all registered trafficking cases in Quintana Roo state during 2025.
• Puerto Vallarta: Recorded 2.4 million tourist arrivals.

According to Nayeli Sánchez of UNODC, structural variables such as labor informality, poverty, and migrant population flows significantly increase regional vulnerability to exploitation. The research identified both sexual and labor exploitation occurring in commercial spaces, including hotels, night clubs, vessels, restaurants, airports, bus terminals, and short-term accommodations offered through digital platforms.

The study further outlined critical early-warning indicators that industry personnel can identify, including controlled mobility, the forced retention of personal documents and passports, and forced begging.

The Enforcement Gap and Industry Readiness

Between 2015 and 2025, authorities identified 9,018 victims of human trafficking across Mexico. However, the study reveals a critical enforcement gap: an estimated 93.2% of trafficking cases in Mexico are never formally investigated. This figure underscores the vital role played by frontline commercial transportation and hospitality workers in early detection and reporting.

Survey data within the report indicates a significant gap between awareness and formal preparation among industry personnel:

• 84% of tourism industry workers stated they possess general knowledge regarding human trafficking.
• More than 40% of sector personnel reported that they have never received specific, formal training on the subject.

"Human trafficking takes advantage of spaces, dynamics, and vulnerabilities present in different sectors. Strengthening and involving the tourism industry to identify risks, prevent situations of exploitation, and act in a timely manner can turn it into a first line of protection," said Stacy de la Torre, Head of Office, UNODC Mexico.

Decade-Long Corporate Protocols and Case Confirmation Rates

The event marked 10 years of formal collaboration between Aeroméxico and UNODC dedicated to detecting and eliminating trafficking within commercial aviation operations. In 2016, the airline implemented an operational protocol designed to empower staff to spot potential cases in flight and on the ground, making Aeroméxico the first airline to join the UNODC's Blue Heart Campaign.

Internal operational data disclosed by the airline reveals that between 2019 and 2025, 23% of all suspected human trafficking cases detected by Aeroméxico personnel were formally confirmed as positive cases.

"The findings show us where we are, but they also indicate to us where we must move forward. The study belongs to all of us who believe that the growth of tourism must be accompanied by deep social responsibility and strict respect for human rights," stated Ernesto Gómez, General Counsel of Aeroméxico, during the presentation.

Karen Farías, Director of ESG and Sustainability, Aeroméxico, emphasized the strategic necessity of training transit personnel to recognize behavioral red flags. Farías noted that breaking the transportation chain directly prevents trafficking crimes from reaching completion, calling for an enhanced institutional culture of prevention across all transit routes.

Institutional Framework and Sector-Wide Commitments

The study concludes that human trafficking prevention cannot remain an auxiliary task, but must instead function as a core strategic priority for the Mexican tourism industry through coordinated actions between public authorities, private corporations, and frontline workers.

During the presentation, Gómez Pombo signed a Declaration of Principles on behalf of Aeroméxico, reaffirming the company's commitment to human rights protections and institutional prevention strategies. The agreement received formal endorsement from key aviation and infrastructure leaders, including Juan José Padilla, General Director, Mexico City International Airport (AICM), and Cuitláhuac Gutiérrez, head of the National Air Transport Chamber (Canaero), alongside additional executive representatives from across the national tourism and business sectors.