by Lufthansa Flyer | Jun 9, 2015 | Brussels, Cargo, Featured, Industry News |
Brussels Airlines has modified their Cargo policy to ban the transport of any hunting trophies aboard their aircraft with immediate effect. This bans covers their entire network.
What makes Brussels’ announcement so important is the fact that they directly serve 20 African destinations. With this newly revised policy the impact should reverberate throughout the continent.
Brussels now joins Lufthansa, South African, Singapore, and Emirates with recent policy announcements that ban the transport of Hunting Trophies, regardless whether they were harvested legally or not.
It is encouraging to see airlines taking on an important role in an attempt to discourage the practice of hunting large African game simply for the purpose of harvesting a trophy. Also encouraging is the fact that these transport bans are going beyond just the ‘obvious’ animals such as Rhino, Elephants, Lions, Tigers, and the like.
With the prevalence of poaching and other questionable hunting ethics, I for one am glad that Airlines are beginning to take an ‘absolute’ position on the matter.
by Lufthansa Flyer | May 31, 2015 | Cargo, Featured, Lufthansa |
Yesterday I wrote a brief piece regarding some news I was hearing from reliable sources that Lufthansa Cargo had altered their policy on the transport of Hunting Trophies in Africa. This involved a memo that apparently had been issued by LH Cargo’s manager in Johannesburg, South Africa.
After reaching out to my Lufthansa contacts last night, I was pleased to wake up to emails confirming yesterday’s suspicions.
Coming directly from Lufthansa Cargo, it is clear as to what LH’s updated policy is on the transport of Hunting Trophies in Africa:
EFFECTIVE MAY 30, 2015:
‘Lufthansa Cargo has decided not to transport any trophies of the African fauna, e.g. lions, elephants and rhinos, in or out of Africa – including legally hunted or legally acquired trophies.’
No longer is there the technicality regarding CITES policies that allows for export of some trophies if they are legally hunted. As far as my language skills are concerned, I interpret the LH statement as covering a wide range of animals and the trophies will not fly aboard Lufthansa aircraft even if they were ‘taken’ legally.
This topic has been near and dear to me for quite some time and I’m happy to see that LH has joined the ranks of other airlines such as South Africa, Emirates and British Airways who also have policies in place that prevent this kind of transport.
To me, this looks like the beginning of a trend in the airline industry and if enough voices start calling for bans on Trophy transportation, airlines will have no choice but to listen.
Ideally, these policies should become ‘Alliance’ policies where organizations like Star Alliance, Skyteam or OneWorld would require member airlines to adhere to a uniform set of rules when it comes to topics such as this.
It is interesting to note however that Delta came out with a ‘defiant’ statement recently indicating that they will continue to transport hunting trophies in and out of Africa. I wonder how long that lasts…..but I digress…..
For now, enjoy the fact that Lufthansa has listened to our voices and has taken steps necessary to play an important role in this important matter.
by Lufthansa Flyer | May 30, 2015 | Cargo, Featured, Lufthansa |
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.
More details as I learn them!
