Oneworld Becomes First Airline Alliance to Sign Buckingham Palace Declaration Against Wildlife Trafficking
In a landmark move for global conservation, the oneworld® airline alliance has officially become the first aviation alliance in history to commit all of its 15 member airlines to the Buckingham Palace Declaration (BPD). The historic agreement, aimed at disrupting the multi-billion-dollar illegal wildlife trade, marks a significant escalation in the aviation industry’s battle against organized environmental crime.
The final commitment was solidified at the IATA Wings of Change Europe conference in Brussels, where Samer Majali, President and CEO of Royal Jordanian Airlines, signed the declaration on behalf of the collective. With this unanimous support, the oneworld alliance—which serves nearly 1,000 destinations globally—has pledged to harmonize its efforts to close the routes frequently exploited by traffickers.
Wildlife trafficking is currently recognized as one of the fastest-growing forms of organized crime, bleeding into global transport networks and supply chains to move illegal goods across borders. Beyond the immediate harm to endangered species, environmental crime is a major driver of biodiversity loss, contributing to over US$1 trillion in economic damage annually.
“The complete commitment of all oneworld members greatly increases our ability to identify and disrupt trafficking and help combat the illegal trade in wildlife,” said Ole Orvér, CEO of oneworld. “This milestone reinforces the critical role aviation plays in protecting endangered species and safeguarding global ecosystems.”
The Buckingham Palace Declaration, launched in 2016 by The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife (UfW), acts as a bridge between the transport sector and law enforcement. By joining this initiative, oneworld members have adopted a series of rigorous measures to bolster their defenses. These include the implementation of a zero-tolerance policy toward the illegal wildlife trade, the enhancement of screening processes for both cargo and passengers, and specialized training for frontline staff to identify and report suspicious activity.
Lord William Hague, Co-Chair of United for Wildlife, welcomed the alliance into the fold, noting the power of the aviation sector’s scale in this fight. “We are pleased to see momentum continue with new signatories strengthening global efforts to prevent and disrupt wildlife trafficking,” Lord Hague stated. “By signing the Buckingham Palace Declaration, oneworld joins this global effort, strengthening the aviation sector’s ability to detect and deter these crimes through collaboration with law enforcement and conservation partners.”
As the 15 airlines integrate these new protocols, the alliance will prioritize intelligence sharing and increased cooperation with customs authorities and governments worldwide. By creating a more coordinated and effective response across their extensive international networks, oneworld is positioning itself as a vital stakeholder in the global effort to safeguard the world’s most vulnerable species, effectively turning their global reach into a shield against environmental exploitation.
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