All 15 member airlines of the oneworld alliance have committed to the Buckingham Palace Declaration, strengthening aviation industry efforts to detect and disrupt illegal wildlife trafficking across global transport networks.
Royal Jordanian became the final member to sign the declaration during IATA’s Wings of Change Europe event in Brussels, completing the alliance-wide commitment.
Launched by The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife in 2016, the declaration brings together transport and logistics organisations to reduce the routes available to wildlife traffickers.
Under the commitment, participating airlines will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to illegal wildlife trade, strengthen screening and reporting processes across passenger and cargo operations and provide frontline teams with training to recognise suspicious activity.
Members will also increase information sharing and cooperation with governments, customs authorities, law enforcement agencies and conservation organisations across a network spanning nearly 1,000 destinations.
Ole Orvér, oneworld CEO, said the collective commitment would strengthen the alliance’s ability to identify and respond to trafficking activity.
“The complete commitment of all oneworld members greatly increases our ability to identify and disrupt trafficking and help combat the illegal trade in wildlife,” Mr Orvér said.
Lord William Hague, United for Wildlife Co-Chair, said the participation of all 15 airlines would add further aviation sector support to the organisation’s Transport Taskforce and its work with enforcement and conservation partners.
