For any airline considering the launch of new routes, it is crucial to conduct thorough due diligence. One of our long-term clients, a low-cost European carrier, recognised this need and leveraged Osprey:Oracle to assess stowaway risks and security concerns in West Africa, providing valuable insights for their route planning and contract negotiations.
Osprey:Oracle is a bespoke service that offers direct access to our expert analysts. It provides the opportunity for our clients to ask specific questions related to flight operational risk and receive in-depth analysis, reports and material in response.
The service covers all aspects of risk management and mitigation on topics including conflict zone activity, counterterrorism, as well as irregular migration, crew/aviation security, and environmental threats. In this instance our client requested detailed information relating to stowaway incidents and security risks in West Africa.
The brief
The client has used Osprey's full product suite for over four years and purchases blocks of time with Osprey:Oracle, calling on the service when expert analysis is required. We discussed a detailed brief with the client, which included the need for data and reporting on stowaway incidents and related security issues, that its operations team would use to not only understand the risks, but also as part of their negotiation for enhanced security protection during the contract negotiation.
Cutting-edge technology with world-class human analysis
Our dedicated team of specialist analysts are subject matter experts and this client’s query was assigned to Analysis Output Manager, Alexandra James, who specialises in migration security issues, including human trafficking and people smuggling, as well as in-flight security.
To conduct this research and analysis, Alexandra used Osprey’s full suite of risk management solutions. This includes historical Osprey Alerts, our real-time alerts system, which can be filtered by country and alert type, as well as keywords like ‘stowaways’; Osprey:Explore, our live analytics dashboard which showcases and filters all our incident (Ping) data, and our specialist internal platform which utilises live Osprey data to create visual representations of trends, patterns and hotspots.
Key findings and recommendations
The prepared report identified several critical security concerns, particularly at high-risk airports including Lagos and Accra. Key findings included vulnerabilities such as perimeter breaches and insider assistance, especially in Lagos and Nairobi, where security gaps allow stowaways access to aircraft.
The report warns of safety risks posed by stowaways and potential future threats such as weapon smuggling. Operational risks including flight delays and reputational damage are also highlighted. Finally, recommendations for measures to mitigate these risks, including enhanced perimeter security, pre-flight checks and anti-tamper technology were provided.
Conclusion: A successful outcome for the client
By utilising Osprey:Oracle, the airline was provided with valuable insights on regional security vulnerabilities, operational risks, and recommended mitigation strategies, giving them the necessary tools to secure their flights, passengers and crew, while at the same time preparing for successful contract negotiations.
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