Korean Air signs Buckingham Palace Declaration to fight wildlife trafficking

Korean Air has signed the Buckingham Palace Declaration, becoming the first airline from South Korea to join the global effort against illegal wildlife trafficking through the transportation sector. The announcement was made July 21, 2026.

Established in March 2016, the declaration is an international agreement designed to keep traffickers from exploiting global transport networks. 

It lays out 11 commitments for signatories, including sharing information on illegal wildlife trade, reporting suspicious activity to the relevant authorities, and refusing to transport cargo suspected of containing illegally traded wildlife or wildlife products.

Joining a decade-long global effort

As a signatory, Korean Air will take part in the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce, an initiative led by the UK’s Royal Foundation, and put the declaration’s commitments into practice. 

The airline said it plans to tighten its security procedures, train employees on identifying suspicious wildlife shipments, and refuse to transport any wildlife or wildlife products suspected of being tied to illegal trade.

Lord William Hague, Co-Chair of United for Wildlife, welcomed the airline’s decision as the Taskforce marks its tenth anniversary. 

“As we mark the 10th anniversary of the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce, we are delighted to see momentum continuing, with new signatories strengthening the global effort to close routes exploited by traffickers and prevent the illegal wildlife trade,” Hague said. 

He added that Korean Air’s commitment “helps to strengthen the aviation sector’s ability to detect and deter these crimes through collaboration with law enforcement and conservation partners.”

A Korean Air representative echoed the same sense of responsibility, saying, “Airlines have a critical role to play in preventing illegal wildlife trafficking, making Korean Air’s commitment to the Buckingham Palace Declaration particularly meaningful.” 

The representative added that the airline intends to keep working through “rigorous monitoring and proactive cooperation” to help curb trafficking and support global biodiversity.

Building on existing conservation work

The declaration builds on conservation efforts Korean Air has already carried out. 

In January 2026, the airline provided complimentary transport to repatriate rescued Jewelled Geckos, a rare species native to New Zealand, working alongside New Zealand’s Department of Conservation and authorities in both countries to safely return the surviving geckos to their native habitat.

That earlier effort reflects the kind of hands-on involvement Korean Air is now formalizing through its commitment to the Buckingham Palace Declaration, positioning the airline as an active participant in broader industry efforts to shut down trafficking routes across the aviation sector.

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