How We Work

1

When an emergency occurs, Airlink activates its network of NGOs to determine response readiness and understand transport needs.

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Following an emergency, Airlink engages the donors and aviation actors it has developed partnerships with in order to mount a rapid response.

3

Airlink assists with document review and shipping guidance to ensure flight safety, alignment with needs, and efficient customs clearance.

The organization also connects active agencies for multisector collaboration and information sharing through coordination calls.

4

Airlink helps aviation support emergencies by helping them vet organizations and match their capacity with relief needs (supplies and/or responders)

5

Airlink utilizes existing commercial capacity where possible to send personnel and supplies.

6

When goods arrive in-country, Airlink and its logistics partners ensure they clear customs and move through the airport quickly to avoid supply chain constriction.

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If there are last-mile delivery challenges, Airlink works with logistics partners and aviation operators to best get goods and expert personnel to their final destination

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Communities receive food, medical assistance, shelter, access to clean water, fuel, internet and communications access, legal assistance, and other forms of help in their time of greatest need.

Vetting & Risk Management

Airlink’s airlin partners collectively represent more than $60B in brand value. Safeguarding this as a trusted partner is core to our work. Here are 4 steps we take to ensure we are working with reputable organizations, even in high-risk contexts:

Basic Vetting: Airlink requires that organizations meet basic criteria for partnership (including: 2 years of response experience, financial health, and legal charity status).

Advanced Vetting: Airlink reviews requests by looking into the organization’s program practices (unconditional aid, informed and safe deployment, expertise in intervention area), adverse media, sanctions and compliance, and mission fit.

Ongoing: Accepted partners undergo monthly monitoring for sanctions, terror, fraud, criminal and civil violations, and adverse media through a third-party screening tool, as well as in every project in 28 high-risk countries.

Post-Mission: Organizations must submit reports following completion of every project to ensure alignment with the program and track humanitarian impact.

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Prioritization of Goods & Aid

Airlink prioritizes life-saving aid and care during a disaster. In working with local actors and governments who have identified needs, we can coordinate with our humanitarian partners on sending the right aid at the right time, ensuring what is most important arrives first.

Airlink is committed to ensuring a transparent vetting, programming, and response process in line with international humanitarian standards. To see the best practices we uphold and policies we abide by, see our Transparency Page.

How Airlink Decides to Respond

Airlink assesses ability to respond to new or emerging crises based on 6 essential criteria:

Mission fit: does this emergency fall under one of our response areas? (Natural disaster, conflict, disease outbreak.)
Need identified: is there a call for international assistance, or have local demands outstripped local resources?
Requests: are humanitarian partners requesting our help?
Air access: do Airlink’s airline partners have existing routes or access to the nearest airports?
Challenges: can Airlink overcome response challenges, and find solutions across air and multi-modal solutions? (Nearest airport closed following a storm, shut borders, active conflicts, truck access or sea freight options.)
Resources: Sdoes Airlink staff have bandwidth, and does the organization have funding, resources, and airline support available?

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