Borkena
Toronto – Ethiopian Airlines is once again at the center of allegations from advocacy groups, claiming violations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations.
The latest accusations come from a wildlife advocacy group that has been campaigning against the airline on social media. The campaign is not new; in 2021, World Animal Protection alleged that Ethiopian Airlines played “a role in cruel global wildlife trade.”
At the time, Ethiopian Airlines denied the allegations, issuing a response on September 2, 2021, via its official website. The airline emphasized its strict adherence to all applicable regulations:
“We have procedures in place to exercise due diligence to the best of our ability when scheduling consignments for shipments, ensuring that shippers must present in advance a copy of all required licenses and permits, including CITES (if required) as well as any import permits, and required health documentation. We utilize the IATA live animal checklist to ensure each step of the process is in compliance.”
Despite this earlier clarification, the allegations have resurfaced. The motivations behind the renewed campaign remain unclear, but Ethiopian Airlines asserts that it continues to face what appears to be a coordinated smear effort involving both state and non-state actors.
On December 15, 2024, Ethiopian Airlines released a new announcement addressing the ongoing social media campaign. The full statement is featured below:
“Announcement
Ethiopian Airlines is aware of recent social media campaigns regarding live animal transportation. We understand that the organizations behind these campaigns are wildlife advocacy NGOs dedicated to promoting animal welfare. We respect their right to advocate for their cause. However, we believe that any advocacy efforts should be based on accurate information and should avoid making false or misleading claims.
International treaties and national laws provide the framework for the international transportation of live animals. These regulations form a comprehensive structure designed to ensure the ethical and safe transit of live animals across borders. Moreover, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) plays a pivotal role in regulating the transportation of live animals through its comprehensive Live Animals Regulations (LAR). LAR establishes stringent standards and protocols that airlines must adhere to, encompassing various aspects such as animal welfare, handling procedures, documentation requirements, and appropriate container specifications.
As an organization deeply committed to maintaining legal and regulatory standards, Ethiopian Airlines diligently adheres to the established frameworks that govern all aspects of its operations, including the transportation of live animals across various categories. We recently engaged an independent expert to thoroughly review our end-to-end process, confirming our complete adherence to IATA LAR standards. Therefore, the allegation that Ethiopian Airlines operates these flights in violation of national and international laws is false.
Ethiopian Airlines remains resolutely dedicated to upholding and adhering to the above-mentioned statutes and regulations across all aspects of its operations. This commitment underscores its steadfast focus on safety, ethics, and responsibility throughout its operations.
As a company that takes its corporate responsibility seriously, Ethiopian Airlines acknowledges the concerns of animal welfare groups. We want to assure the public and these organizations that we always uphold the highest ethical standards in our operation. We will also continue to evaluate our internal processes to ensure these highest ethical standards are always maintained.
Ethiopian Airlines
A Star Alliance Member ”
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It is expected that the higher you move up in fortunes the more some others will do the best they can to bring you down. EAL has been growing against all odds when many other airlines bit the dust. It is the pride of the colored since its inception. This is clearly a smear campaign by losers. These slackers will not let up until their allegations somehow stick and for that reason this airline should be guarded. Otherwise, it is managed and run by geniuses from top to bottom.