Before a quick update on this situation, I want to note that Cargolux has also decided not to carry any ivory or any CITES App. 1 trophies. I had hoped to use them last year to get a scimitar horned oryx home (they fly non-stop between Luxembourg and Calgary), but the shipment was refused.
I recently (last week) was notified by a shipper in Zimbabwe that my shipment from my 2014 hippo/croc hunt (among other things) was ready to go, and I was given the routing and dates. Then, two days later, I was told that no airline would carry the shipment because the hippo teeth were ivory. I gave the shipper a number of options to consider - separating the shipment; sending the teeth by mail; sending them to Ethiopia with a Zimbabwean friend who is joining me on my hunt there, so I could bring them back in my luggage; and, lastly, to try El Al.
El Al had taken the oryx last year, so it seemed worth it to give them a try. And guess what - they said they have no problem with hunting trophies, as long as the paper work is in order. The routing for me is a bit convoluted - Zimbabwe to Johannesburg, to Tel Aviv, and then non-stop to Toronto. While that's a good 1,600 miles from me, it's as good as it's going to get, and from there I can have it shipped by truck.
I hesitate to relate this because I worry about drawing attention to the good work El Al is doing, but something to consider if you're having trouble getting trophies home.
