By joining the Blue Lightning Initiative, Leahy BTV reinforces its commitment to the safety and well-being of travelers and the broader community.
South Burlington, VT — The Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (Leahy BTV) is proud to announce its participation in the Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI), a program led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that trains aviation personnel to recognize and report suspected instances of human trafficking.
By joining the Blue Lightning Initiative, Leahy BTV reinforces its commitment to the safety and well-being of travelers and the broader community. Through the program, airport employees and partners receive specialized training to identify potential indicators of human trafficking and report their observations to law enforcement.
“Safety at Leahy BTV goes beyond security checkpoints—it’s about protecting the most vulnerable among us,” said, Nic Longo, Director of Aviation. “Joining the Blue Lightning Initiative is another step in ensuring that every member of our airport community has the awareness and tools to help stop human trafficking.”
Launched in 2012, the Blue Lightning Initiative is a collaborative effort between federal agencies and the aviation industry to strengthen the nation’s ability to detect and prevent human trafficking through frontline awareness. Leahy BTV joins more than 150 aviation partners nationwide in implementing this important program.
“The Blue Lightning Initiative strengthens one of our most powerful tools in the fight against human trafficking: trained eyes and informed action,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Director Tasha Reid Hippolyte of DHS’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking. “We are grateful to Leahy BTV for joining this national effort. When airport personnel know what to look for and how to report it, they become a critical line of defense in protecting those who cannot protect themselves.”
“The U.S. Department of Transportation welcomes this partnership with DHS and Leahy BTV to train airport employees and partners,” said Julie Abraham, Director of the Office of International Transportation and Trade, U.S. Department of Transportation. “This partnership highlights the commitment of airports to combat human trafficking in the aviation sector and spread awareness to members of the traveling public.”
To learn more about the Blue Lightning Initiative, visit Blue Lightning Initiative | Homeland Security
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About the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport
Leahy BTV, a Top 5 Small Airport in the U.S., as named by USA Today, is located adjacent to Burlington, Vermont, just ten minutes from Lake Champlain. Business and leisure travelers alike appreciate Leahy BTV’s friendliness and direct flights to: Atlanta (ATL) via Delta, Charleston, SC via Breeze Airways, Charlotte (CLT) via American Airlines, Chicago (ORD) via United, Denver (DEN) via United, Detroit (DTW) via Delta, Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) via Sun Country Airlines and Delta, New York City (JFK, LGA, EWR) via United and Delta, Philadelphia (PHL) via American Airlines, Washington, DC (IAD) via United, Washington, DC (DCA) via American Airlines, Orlando (MCO) via Breeze Airways, Tampa (TPA) Breeze Airways, Jacksonville (JAX), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), and Fort Myers (RSW) via Breeze Airways. Book your getaway today at btv.aero.
