American Airlines Lifts Ban on Firearms Transport (except to UK)
As reported in this Bulletin on Sept. 24th, American Airlines announced earlier this week that it would no longer accept any firearms as checked baggage to destinations in Europe or Asia. (Read PRIOR REPORT.)
Now, under pressure from airline customers and shooters organizations including the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Safari Club International (SCI), American Airlines has reversed its ban on firearms transport, except as to the United Kingdom. American has determined that it WILL allow legally-declared firearms to be transported on nonstop flights to destinations in Europe (outside of the UK), and to Asian destinations. However, American Airline’s spokesman declared: “As a result of UK policies we can not allow civilian transport of firearms into the UK.”
As a UK shooter I am interested to know what these UK policies are that prevent American Airlines carrying firearms into the UK. Other airlines do! So if I want to take my firearms to shoot in USA it won’t be on a US carrier.
As a civilian I frequently take my rifle from the Netherlands (Europe) to the UK by (Dutch or UK) air carrier. I have no hassle at all with the papers, so I really don’t understand what American is referring to regarding to “UK policies”. Just politics?