An alliance-wide commitment
The alliance announced the agreement on October 16, 2026, in Brussels. It brings 15 airlines into the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce, with members pledging to uphold wildlife protection rules throughout a network of nearly 1,000 destinations.
Participating airlines include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian.
Ole Orvér, oneworld's CEO, said having every member involved substantially strengthens the alliance's capacity to spot and disrupt trafficking and combat the illegal wildlife trade. Lord William Hague, co-chair of United for Wildlife, welcomed the 15 airlines into the taskforce, saying their participation would strengthen aviation's efforts to detect and deter wildlife crime alongside law enforcement and conservation partners.
Travel Extra reports that illegal wildlife trafficking causes more than $1 trillion in economic damage annually.
Screening, staff training and information sharing
The airlines' pledges cover better reporting and screening, training for frontline employees, and cooperation with governments and conservation organizations. They also commit the carriers to a zero-tolerance policy on illegal wildlife trade.
United for Wildlife says the declaration contains 11 commitments. Along with zero tolerance, these address improvements to data systems, innovation and the exchange of information within the transport sector.
Majali said: "This commitment reinforces our industry's responsibility to protect wildlife and disrupt the illegal trade that threatens biodiversity across the globe."
One member, Qatar Airways, already has wildlife-related initiatives documented in United for Wildlife's 2026 10-year review. The review identifies it as the first airline to pass IATA's independent Environmental Assessment Wildlife Module and reports that its "Rewild the Planet" project has repatriated more than 1,000 animals.
A taskforce launched in 2016
The Royal Foundation established the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce in 2016. Its founding members signed the Buckingham Palace Declaration that year following 12 months of meetings held in London, Geneva and Dubai.
United for Wildlife's 10-year review traces its growth from the 40 companies that first signed the declaration in 2016 to more than 300 members and 122 partners across six continents. The review also reports that its Transport and Financial Taskforces have trained more than 150,000 employees and assisted with over 550 law enforcement cases.
Participation has extended beyond companies. Colombia became the first country to sign the declaration in April 2022, doing so at the Americas' illegal wildlife trade conference in Cartagena.
