Aerolíneas Argentinas bans hunting trophy flights
According to Humane Society International, Argentina is among the top ten countries that import the most animals as trophies into the United States. This has prompted Aerolíneas Argentinas to take radical measures and put an end to these activities.
The airline Aerolíneas Argentinas has just announced that it will no longer transport hunting trophies on its domestic and international flights.
Protecting the environment and wildlife
With this initiative, the airline aims to contribute to the protection of the environment and wildlife worldwide.
Trophy hobby hunters invest vast sums of money every year to kill wild animals for display in their own homes. According to Humane Society International, more than 200,000 threatened or endangered wild animals are killed as trophies every year.
This initiative aims to protect Argentine wildlife and is in line with international conservation standards such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Pablo Ceriani, CEO of Aerolíneas Argentinas
«This type of policy is important, it shows progress and shares the common goal of creating a more conscious world for the protection of wild animals and plants», said Pablo Ceriani.
45 airlines with trophy bans
In January 2020, 45 airlines worldwide had some form of ban on the transport of hunting trophies. These included Emirates, KLM, Virgin, Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, Hawaiian Airlines, SWISS, Iberia, Cargolux, and others.
Many US airlines introduced their ban for the first time in 2015. The decision came following the illegal killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe by US dentist Walter Palmer.
Cargolux, for example, completely banned the transport of hunting trophies in 2018. The airline stated that this practice "is not consistent with the company's ethical obligations and guidelines».
Of the 46 airlines that Humane Society International has approached with a ban on transporting hunting trophies, 33 have a 100% ban.
