Information is beginning to come from several reliable and proven sources that Lufthansa has issued a mandate instructing their African Cargo operations to place a ban on the transport of any African Hunting Trophy aboard LH Aircraft.
This memorandum may have been issued only in the last day or 2 and I am working to confirm additional details. What I understand so far is that the ban is effective immediately and covers any and all hunting trophies that originate in Africa.
With this new policy, LH has joined with South African, Emirates and British Airways in banning ‘Trophy’ cargo. Unfortunately Delta has issued a statement recently affirming that they will continue to allow transit of African Game Trophies aboard their aircraft.
In addition to SAA, Emirates has now created a policy that takes effect on May 15 that also provides for the ban of Large Trophy Game transport on its aircraft as well.
To this end, I want to bring your attention to Lufthansa’s position on the topic.
I contacted LH Cargo soon after the SAA news to confirm what Lufthansa’s position is on this very important topic. I’m glad to report that LH has policies similar to the aforementioned airlines in place. In fact I think the LH policies may go a bit beyond what SAA has in place. According to the internal memo from SAA it targets only specific animals (Rhino, Elephant, Lion, and Tiger):
This leads me to think that SAA will still allow the transport of other Game not specifically listed in their internal communications.
In an email exchange with my contacts at Lufthansa Cargo, I was able to gain confirmation that Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo do not engage in the transport of Large Trophy Animals or animals protected under CITES 1.
From LH Cargo:
“We definitely do not transport large game trophies and, of course, no trophies for any endangered species, complying with CITES 1 regulations”
Animals that ‘qualify’ under CITES 1 include Elephant, Rhino, Lion, Tiger, Cheetah, Leopard, Zebra, Giraffe and other large game. Based on my interpretation of CITES 1, it provides for a ban on the commercial export or import of Game that is endangered or can potentially be endangered by harvesting. It does not apply to Game that is not at risk, such as Impala, Kudu and other antelope or small game not listed as an at-risk species.
If I interpret the LH statement correctly, it appears that they go beyond what is just required by CITES and may in fact go beyond what SAA and Emirates have put into place since they suggest that they transport NO Large game, not just CITES 1 protected animals.
Personally, I would like to see airlines band together and create a standardized policy that addresses this very sensitive and important topic. If it one day becomes impossible to transport ANY Animal Trophy due to airline policies, we will have made major strides in reducing the amount of senseless murders that take place of defenseless animals.
If game hunters realize that they can’t bring home the carcass of what they senselessly slaughtered while on vacation, perhaps then the animals will have a fighting chance.
A post published by Africa Geographic is suggesting that South African Airways has placed a WORLDWIDE BAN on the transport of Hunt Trophies, even if proper export and import permits are in place.
In what looks to be an internal document, the ban specifically refers to Rhinos, Elephants, Tigers, and Lions which are among the world’s most endangered big-game animals.
By no means am I an environmentalist or tree hugger but after going on a Safari last year, I’ve developed a passion around the protection of endangered animals, especially the Rhino who are at the mercy of poachers throughout Africa. Anytime I see positive developments such as the potential new SAA Cargo policy, I’ll share it in the hopes of bringing additional awareness to the topic.
If in fact this policy is now in place with SAA Cargo, I hope that other airlines follow their lead and adopt similar policies. This looks like a very effective way to put an end to the needless killing of defenseless, endangered animals.
Lufthansa announced today that approximately half of their scheduled Long-Haul flights will operate as planned tomorrow during the strike. In other words, 43 of 85 flights will not be canceled. The union’s initial claim was that it would impact ALL Long Haul flights. Cargo has indicated that none of their flights will be impacted.
An update has been made available that covers the specific flights that have been cancelled tomorrow. You can find that info HERE. To find out what options are available as far as rebooking and refunds are concerned, please go HERE.
Lufthansa expects to be back to normal by Friday.
I’m glad that these strikes happened this week and not next week 😉 .
The Plane Spotting gods no doubt are looking over me this weekend.
Yesterday, I was able to be among the first set of eyes to see Lufthansa’s newest 747-8i, D-ABYR, emerge from Boeing’s Paint Hangar at Paine Field. Then later in the evening, I was tipped off that Lufthansa Cargo’s last 777 Freighter was set to be moved to it’s final assembly position. I say tipped because I received the great intel from a Paine Field expert.
Known on Twitter as Paine Airport (@MattCawby), Matt has the pulse on what is happening with Boeing as far as aircraft movements are concerned. His regular updates helps followers keep tabs on test flights, assembly movements and delivery flight information. You can see more of his work and photography on his website as well.
So after I get the call letting me know that ‘D-ALFE’, the last 777F that LH Cargo has on order, was set to move from one hangar to another I set off to a ‘secret’ spot that lets you see inside the assembly hangars. A Cathay Pacific 777 had just been completed and moved to the fuel dock making room for D-ALFE to move into place.
Here is a video and a few images showing the transfer from last night (January 10, 2015):
D-ALFE as she is prepared to move along Boeing’s assembly line.
D-ALFE pushed back into her final assembly position
D-ALFE will now have her engines attached and stay here until she is ready for the Paint Hangar
