American Airlines Cargo expands wildlife trafficking awareness push

American Airlines Cargo has reaffirmed its commitment to combating wildlife trafficking and protecting endangered species across global supply chains. The company strengthened this effort through a training and awareness event held at its cargo facility at Miami International Airport, where more than 100 team members participated alongside industry stakeholders.

The initiative is part of the airline’s ongoing engagement with United for Wildlife, through which it continues to focus on education, partnerships and operational vigilance aimed at addressing illegal wildlife trade.

The event brought together representatives from United for Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, HSBC and Deloitte. A hands-on exhibit featuring previously seized wildlife products was also displayed, offering participants direct insight into the scale of trafficking activity and the role of air cargo operations in identifying illicit shipments.

“United for Wildlife is proud to have participated in American Airlines’ workshop at their cargo facility at Miami International Airport (MIA), alongside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and representatives from our Finance Taskforce,” said Jon Godson, Transport Taskforce Director, United for Wildlife. “We commend American Airlines for their leadership in the fight against the illicit trafficking of animals and for delivering an event that provides a compelling model which can be replicated by other transport and finance task force members. The USFWS exhibit of previously seized wildlife offered a powerful, tangible reminder of the scale of the threats our sector continues to face.”

Sam Mendenhall, Vice President of Operations at American Airlines Cargo, highlighted the need for collaboration across sectors. “Bringing together leaders from across aviation, conservation and finance creates a powerful network of awareness and action. The engagement we saw in Miami demonstrates how education at every level of the supply chain can make a real difference in disrupting illegal wildlife trafficking.”

Aeric Mathieu, Managing Director of Customer Experience at American Airlines Cargo, pointed to the role of employees in frontline detection. “Our team members are on the front lines of global logistics. By equipping them with the knowledge and tools, we are empowering them to be active participants in protecting wildlife worldwide.”

American Airlines became the first United States carrier to join United for Wildlife in 2022 and has since adopted the Buckingham Palace Declaration across its cargo operations. The airline has also distributed training materials and prevention resources to more than 47 cargo stations worldwide to support detection and reporting efforts.

The Miami event builds on these measures by combining training, cross-industry coordination and case-based learning to strengthen the company’s response to wildlife trafficking. It also aligns with the broader sustainability agenda of American Airlines Group and its approach to responsible logistics operations.

American Airlines Cargo operates across major international markets, handling shipments that include pharmaceuticals, mail and e-commerce through the wider passenger network of American Airlines.