Cairo - The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in cooperation with the National Coordinating Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons (NCCPIM&TIP) and the EGYPTAIR training Academy, organized its first training with EGYPTAIR as part of an initiative to enhance the capacities of 34 check-in and cabin staff on the subjects of examining passengers’ travel documents, detection of forged documents in addition to expanding staff knowledge on related crimes carried out by organized networks of criminal organizations. The training took place at the premises of EGYPTAIR Academy, based in Cairo International Airport, a facility providing Star Alliance trainings in Egypt for multiple airlines.

During the training, the participants were introduced to IOM’s services that are provided globally and in Egypt, security features and printing techniques of travel documents, as well as IOM’s expertise on counter-trafficking among other topics that were discussed in depth. The training saw the fruitful participation of representatives from the embassies of France, Italy, and Germany to cover topics on passengers’ profiles and entry to and exit from the European Union. This opportunity created a platform to showcase best practices and experiences which aims at combating trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants to ensure the protection and wellbeing of migrants in vulnerable situations by capacitating frontline staff in Egyptian Airports

EGYPTAIR Airlines is the core of EGYPTAIR Holding Company with 89 years of service and has successfully extended its network to reach major destinations across the world. Customers are currently able to reach more destinations in 195 countries all over the globe. EGYPTAIR is also a Star Alliance member since July 2008. This training will work towards building the capacity and capabilities of the airliner and enable them timely to detect organized networks of criminal transnational organizations who try to conduct activities by using the services offered by Egyptair. In addition, these trainings will enable check-in staff and cabin crew to detect such cases and refer them to the responsible authorities to ensure the protection and wellbeing of vulnerable migrants.

This activity was generously funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) through the Sub-regional office of Africa Regional Migration Program in Cairo. It aligns with IOM Egypt’s engagement with the Government of Egypt on the protection of migrants and enhancement of related capacities and Egypt’s Vision 2030.

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For more information please contact:

Salma Okasha, IOM Egypt, sokasha@iom.int