#USA #Brussels #oneworld #Wildlife Trafficking #Buckingham Palace

oneworld Alliance Takes a Stand Against Wildlife Trafficking

In a landmark initiative, oneworld®, along with its 15 member airlines, has committed to fighting illegal wildlife trafficking by signing the Buckingham Palace Declaration (BPD). This marks a significant step as they become the first airline alliance to undertake this collaboration, demonstrating a unified commitment to a global cause.

The declaration, aimed at combatting the rampant illegal wildlife trade, was signed by Samer Majali, President and CEO of Royal Jordanian Airlines, during the recent 'Wings of Change Europe' event hosted by IATA in Brussels. This move brings together all oneworld member airlines, reinforcing their collective capacity to identify and dismantle wildlife trafficking operations.

Ole Orvér, the CEO of oneworld, stated, "The full commitment of all oneworld members significantly enhances our ability to detect and disrupt wildlife trafficking while aiding efforts to combat the illegal trade of these species." This declaration stresses the vital role aviation plays in protecting endangered species and safeguarding global ecosystems.

Illegal wildlife trafficking is a component of a larger issue involving environmental crime, which is one of the fastest-growing forms of organized crime worldwide. Such criminal activities heavily leverage international transport networks and supply chains, leading to profound biodiversity loss and economic damages exceeding $1 trillion annually.

The Buckingham Palace Declaration aims to unite the transport and logistics sectors to help close the routes exploited by traffickers. Introduced in 2016 by the United for Wildlife initiative of The Royal Foundation, the declaration encourages collaboration and commitment among airlines worldwide. By agreeing to this commitment, oneworld will strengthen their policies, improve detection and reporting mechanisms, and support global law enforcement efforts across their extensive network of nearly 1,000 destinations.

Lord William Hague, co-chair of United for Wildlife, expressed his enthusiasm for oneworld's participation in the initiative, stating, "We are pleased to see the momentum continue with new signatories strengthening global efforts to prevent and dismantle wildlife trafficking.” This sets a precedent for the airline industry, showcasing cooperation across sectors to address pressing global challenges.

Each of oneworld's member airlines will implement various measures as part of the declaration. These include:

• - Adopting a zero-tolerance approach towards the illegal wildlife trade.
• - Enhancing inspection, notification, and compliance processes in passenger and cargo operations.
• - Training frontline staff to identify and respond to suspicious activities.
• - Collaborating with governments, customs authorities, and conservation organizations.

Furthermore, the Buckingham Palace Declaration supports broader efforts led by the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce, which aims to accelerate coordinated global responses to the illegal wildlife trade.

About oneworld

oneworld consists of 15 world-class airlines: Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, and SriLankan Airlines, providing services to nearly 1,000 destinations worldwide. Through collaboration, these airlines deliver a consistently superior travel experience while offering special privileges and rewards to frequent flyers. Benefits include the ability to earn and redeem miles across the alliance network, VIP lounge access, priority check-in and boarding, among others. For more information about the oneworld Alliance, visit oneworld.com.

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