Allies in Aviation: Menzies’ global commitment to refugee inclusion

This post was written by Juliet Thomson, Chief People Officer at Menzies Aviation. Menzies has been a member of the Tent Partnership for Refugees since 2022. Menzies’ partnership with UNHCR has facilitated employment opportunities for refugees and displaced people in Mexico and beyond. 

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By the end of 2024, more than 122 million people were forcibly displayed – equivalent to one in every 67 people on earth. As this crisis reaches unprecedented levels, the private sector has a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to drive inclusive growth, supporting displaced people and helping them rebuild their lives through meaningful employment with dignity and security.  

At Menzies Aviation, as a global employer operating in more than 300 airports in 65 countries, we believe in using our reach to make a positive impact. We’re proud that through our partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and other NGOs, we’re actively supporting refugees across the globe.   

I am honoured to reflect on how our refugee hiring journey – from Mexico and the United Kingdom to France, Romania, the Czech Republic and beyond – is not only contributing to our workforce but enriching our culture and delivering on our commitment to our people and the communities we operate in. This progress would not be possible without the invaluable partnerships that have helped mobilise and expand our outreach to refugee communities around the world.  

Global commitment, local impact 

In 2022, we joined the Tent Partnership for Refugees – an alliance of over 400 companies dedicated to integrating refugees though meaningful employment. Since then, we’ve become active participants in Tent initiatives across Europe, the U.S. and Latin America, and proudly serve as founding members of Tent Mexico.  

Our work in Mexico exemplifies what’s possible when our people embrace our values: inclusive hiring becomes not just the right thing to do, but a smart and sustainable business decision.   

In May 2025, we partnered with UNHCR to run a joint local integration programme in Guadalajara, Mexico to facilitate socioeconomic inclusion through formal employment and community support. This began with a recruitment event, which reinforced our commitment to creating pathways to employment for refugees and displaced talent.   

We were joined by Anisah Dathi, Commercial Director from the British Embassy in Mexico City, and more than 50 refugees and were delighted to offer employment on the day to more than 20 attendees and a further 15 after the event, building on the 19 refugees hired in Mexico since the start of the year. The turnout and talent we saw there was not only inspiring, but it was also a clear signal that when opportunity meets inclusion, everyone benefits – a powerful reminder of what inclusive hiring can achieve.  

UNHCR Mexico and Menzies Aviation staff attend a recruitment event to promote refugee inclusion in Mexico.

These efforts are more than just initiatives; they’re part of a broader strategic investment to build stronger, more resilient teams by investing in people who are often overlooked.   

A sense of belonging   

At Menzies Aviation, we believe that inclusion goes beyond offering a seat at the table. It means ensuring every employee has a voice, the tools to succeed and the respect needed to thrive. For us, inclusion is about belonging. It’s not enough to hire a diverse workforce; inclusive employers ensure that once people walk through the door, they are supported, respected and given equitable opportunities to grow.   

This means actively listening to employee voices, addressing systemic barriers and challenging unconscious bias, not just in recruitment, but in promotion, mentorship, pay equity and decision-making. But it doesn’t stop there. True inclusion means tailored onboarding, mentoring and ongoing support, so every employee can thrive. At Menzies, we offer every refugee access to language classes and development opportunities.  

True, meaningful inclusion in the workplace goes beyond surface-level diversity initiatives or checking boxes. It means creating an environment where every employee, regardless of their background, identity or circumstances, feels genuinely respected, valued and empowered to contribute. For businesses like ours, it’s a chance to demonstrate how we embody our values, close talent gaps and better serve the communities we operate within. 

Casa Menzies: A people-first solution 

In Mexico, supporting local communities, including refugees, and addressing labour challenges required more than a short-term fix, it demanded a people-first solution. Casa Menzies in Mexico was born out of this belief: a scalable, sustainable initiative designed to address local labour shortages while also transforming lives.   

Casa Menzies invites candidates from underemployed or regions with limited services, including displaced individuals and refugees, to relocate for work opportunities at key airport locations. Most recently, attendees at our joint UNHCR refugee hiring event in Guadalajara who expressed an interest in working in Cancún were offered the opportunity of accommodation at Casa Menzies. By providing accommodation and access to reliable transportation, we’re helping to remove barriers to employment and open the door to long-term careers in aviation.  

In fact, what began as a seasonal staffing solution has grown into a year-round recruitment and development initiative, fostering both operational resilience and social impact. Casa Menzies is not only helping our teams meet operational demands amid recruitment challenges but makes a meaningful contribution to both our people and the broader community. I’m proud to see how our teams are helping to foster stability, inclusion and engagement. And the results speak for themselves: lower turnover, reduced absenteeism and stronger employee satisfaction.  

Residents of Casa Menzies typically start as ramp or passenger agents, but through structured upskilling and training programmes, many progress into roles as operators, managers and beyond. In cities like Cancún, Puerto Vallarta and San José del Cabo, we’ve established recruitment hubs and infrastructure, from company-owned transport to airport-adjacent housing, all designed with our people in mind. With capacity for more than 340 team members over three sites, Casa Menzies is more than a job opportunity: it’s a stepping stone to stability, inclusion and a new life. Some team members move on from the programme but choose to settle permanently in their host cities, continuing their careers with Menzies and strengthening the communities we serve. It’s proof that when you invest in people, the returns are real.  

During a recent visit to Menzies Casa Three, our first-ever commissioned and co-designed build in Cancún, I had the honour of meeting some of the current residents, spending time with them and hearing their stories first-hand. It was great to hear about the career progression our residents have made within Menzies, as well as the impact the free housing has had in enabling individuals to provide for themselves and build a better future for their families. The community aspect was clear to see. I met two brothers who had moved to Menzies Casa Three together and referred to their roommate as a colleague who had become a friend and was now viewed as family.  

Standing shoulder to shoulder 

From the breakroom to the boardroom, inclusion is everyone’s responsibility at Menzies. Our commitment to refugee recruitment and building an inclusive workplace sits within a broader ESG and diversity strategy, focused on empowering underrepresented groups across gender, race, disability and age. We’re proud to build a culture of equity, where every team member, regardless of background, has access to growth, opportunity and community.  

Without the support of UNHCR and the Mexican Government, the progress we have made in Mexico would not have been possible. We invite others in our industry and beyond to join us and take action both in Mexico and further afield, because building a more inclusive future is a journey best taken together. It’s about creating workplaces that reflect the world we live in and shaping a future that works for everyone. 

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If your company is interested in making a difference by supporting refugees into meaningful employment, please visit this page or reach out to our Corporate Partnerships team at [email protected].