American Airlines Partners To Fight Wildlife Trafficking

iatanews

1 year ago

American Airlines Cargo has underlined its commitment to ending the illegal wildlife trade by joining United for Wildlife’s Transport Taskforce. American Airlines signed the Buckingham Palace Declaration back in December 2022, becoming the first US carrier to join the organization.

United for Wildlife was founded in 2014 by Prince William and The Royal Foundation, bringing together several of the world’s most influential conservation organizations. The initiative was later endorsed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in recognition of the vital role that airlines can play in stopping the illegal trafficking of wildlife by preventing such products from being transported across borders.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying

American Airlines’ Cargo President, Greg Schwendinger, celebrated the carrier’s participation in the Transport Taskforce, saying,

“We are proud to be the first US cargo carrier to join United for Wildlife. We take our membership in the Transport Taskforce very seriously and are committed to doing our part to put an end to wildlife smuggling within the supply chain. It’s a privilege to link up with other industries and logistics players to fight for this mission together.”

Fighting the illegal wildlife trade

As part of the Transport Taskforce, American Airlines Cargo joins a network of stakeholders around the world, who are trained to recognize patterns of illegal wildlife trade. The carrier will also adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards such illegal activity and will work to raise awareness of the scale and consequences of the problem.

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

The illegal wildlife trade is believed to be worth around $20 billion per year, with rhino horns and ivory among the most commonly trafficked items. The practice also poses a significant threat to global biodiversity and human health, and is often linked to many other criminal acts.

United for Wildlife’s global reach

The Dubai-based carrier Emirates is also a member of the Transport Taskforce, and in 2015, unveiled the first of its Airbus A380s featuring the eye-catching United for Wildlife livery. More recently, Delta Air Lines Cargo went on to join the initiative in April 2023.

Photo: Mehdi Photos | Shutterstock

United for Wildlife’s Transport Taskforce Manager, Ian Cruickshank, highlighted the role of airlines in the fight against the illegal wildlife trade, adding,

“Airlines can play a vital role in disrupting the supply chains of international criminal syndicates trafficking in vulnerable and endangered species. No country is immune from these crimes – between 2009 and 2021; there were an average of seven wildlife seizures a day at US airports. We’re thrilled to welcome American Airlines onboard as our first US airline partner and look forward to working together into the future to drive down this exploitation.”

What do you think of American Airlines Cargo joining United for Wildlife? Do you see other airlines signing up in the future? Share your thoughts by commenting below.

Source: Metropolitan Airport News

Source link