Melbourne, Sydney and Perth airports have teamed up with global anti-trafficking organisation A21 to expand the Can You See Me? awareness campaign across the country.
Screens and billboards throughout the terminals will display key warning signs of human trafficking, alongside QR codes linking travellers to videos and reporting guidance.
The campaign comes as police record a sharp rise in cases, with 420 reports made in 2024-25, almost double the number from five years earlier.
Human trafficking can take many forms, including forced labour, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, domestic servitude, and deceptive recruitment. The Global Slavery Index estimates around 41,000 people in Australia live under conditions of modern slavery.
Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said airports play a crucial role in detecting exploitation.
“This crime often hides in plain sight,” she said. “By giving passengers and airport workers the tools to recognise and report concerning behaviour, we can help protect vulnerable people and potentially save lives.”
Meanwhile, the airport is also preparing for a surge in international travel with the rollout of a new world-class baggage handling system. Currently undergoing testing, the $500m project will more than double the airport’s baggage capacity when it goes live in March.
Built by German logistics specialists Beumer Group, the system features 3.6 kilometres of new baggage lines and an automated early-bag store able to hold 1,400 bags. Processing capacity will jump from 1,800 to over 4,000 bags an hour, with airlines gaining real-time tracking of each bag from check-in to aircraft loading.
Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos said the upgrade is essential as Melbourne Airport records unprecedented international numbers.
“It’s like doing open-heart surgery while running a marathon,” he said, “but the end result will mean fewer lost bags and a smoother journey for travellers.”
Work has begun on building Melbourne Airport’s third runway which is due to open in 2031.