Air Canada and Jane Goodall Institute of Canada Spotlight Illegal Wildlife Trade and Biodiversity Challenges

Building on its long-standing partnership with Dr. Jane Goodall, Air Canada is launching a new initiative to spotlight illegal wildlife trade (IWT) and its impact on global biodiversity. In collaboration with The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada (JGIC), the educational campaign will showcase animals endangered from IWT on the airline’s in-flight entertainment welcome screens, social media and more during Earth Month, along with a special message from Dr. Jane Goodall.

“Air Canada plays an important role in protecting biodiversity around the world and I’ve been proud to see Air Canada team up with The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada to bring more awareness to this issue. Their significant commitment to not only fighting the illegal wildlife trade through their policies and procedures, but using their platform to educate on this very important issue is commendable,” said Dr. Jane Goodall. 

“At Air Canada, our belief is while much of what we do to reduce our environmental footprint is about leaving less, we also need to do more to improve sustainability of the planet. As a global airline, we can use our platform to bring more awareness to the illegal wildlife trade and how that affects overall biodiversity. To further support this important work, we’re pleased to match all Aeroplan points donated to The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada. We are also honoured to celebrate Dr. Goodall’s 90th year through supporting her birthday tour across Canada to inspire the next generation of conservationists.”

Air Canada actively participates in the IWT fight with a zero-tolerance policy on carrying banned species, hunting trophies or products associated with illegal wildlife activities. Air Canada became a signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration in 2020, and was the first airline in the Americas to hold the IATA IWT certification, which confirms policies and procedures are in place to reduce the likelihood of the transportation of illegal wildlife products. The airline became a member of the United for Wildlife North America taskforce which launched in 2022, and has created IWT e-learning modules for all frontline employees and managers in Air Canada Cargo, its freight business. 

To further support The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada’s ongoing environment and conservation work, Aeroplan will be launching a Points Match Week beginning Earth Day, April 22-28. All points donated by Aeroplan members will be matched at 100% by Aeroplan, with all proceeds going directly to the JGIC.  

Air Canada also becomes the first airline globally to showcase conservation documentaries from Age of Union, a non-profit environmental alliance that supports and makes visible a global community of changemakers working on the ground to protect the planet's threatened species and ecosystems. Customers can find these documentaries onboard in a newly launched environmentally focused film and TV category, “Our Planet” in the airline’s inflight entertainment. Beginning in April customers will be able to watch The Corridor, We Are The St. Lawrence, CAUGHT, and more.