The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), was created in 2003 at the request of the United Nations High-Level Committee on Management, managed by the World Food Programme (WFP), provides common air services, including light cargo transport for the wider humanitarian community to and from areas of crisis and intervention.

In most countries requiring humanitarian assistance, surface travel is impeded by challenging security situations, long distances and poor road conditions.

This, along with UNHAS' efficient management of schedules, ensures that partner air carriers avoid taking undue risks to achieve financial gains.

[3] In 2021, UNHAS transported 325,112 passengers alongside 5,862 mt of humanitarian cargo and food to 496 destinations (including ad hoc) in 23 countries.

[3] WFP/UNHAS is funded by contributions from donors and money realized from a partial cost recovery scheme through which passengers pay ticket fees for the air service.