Mr. Calin Rovinescu, President and CEO, Air Canada
calin.rovinescu@aircanada.ca
As a scientist, I am deeply troubled to learn that Air Canada has decided to halt shipment of non-human
primates and possibly other mammals for use in biomedical research. I urge the airline to reconsider this
decision. I ask that you continue transporting research animals allowing lifesaving research around the
world to continue.
Animal models, including non-human primates and other mammals, are essential to advancing our
understanding of and eventually finding cures for blinding diseases and disorders such as glaucoma and
age-related macular degeneration, as well as Alzheimer's disease, HIV/AIDS, malaria, Parkinson's
disease, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury. Airline transportation ensures that laboratory animals
are available for lifesaving biomedical research. Universities, medical and veterinary schools and
research centers are all dependent on your airline to continue their groundbreaking research.
Moreover, air transportation of animals not only promotes good research; it also promotes good animal
welfare. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has stated, “In today's modern world,
carriage of live animals by air is considered the most humane and expedient method of transportation
over long distances.” IATA ensures that both safety and animal welfare are addressed in all regulatory
issues pertaining to transportation of live animals by air.
A small but vocal group of extremists has been pushing this issue in an attempt to halt all research
involving animal models. The extremists’ numbers are dwarfed by the millions who are dependent on
the discoveries brought about by humane, well-regulated animal research and the hundreds of
thousands of scientists around the world who devote their life’s work towards the advancement of
biomedical research. If "animal rights" extremists continue to sway airlines in the direction that your
company is taking, the impact on development of life-saving treatments will be devastating.
The significant role that animal models play in lifesaving research is undeniable. Almost every major
medical advance in the last century was made possible by carefully regulated, humane animal research.
In the U.S., Canada, European nations and others, stringent regulations and reviews protect the welfare
of animals used in research. Scientists are constantly aware that they must use animals appropriately
and humanely, and that they must design their studies to utilize as few animals and as many alternative
techniques as possible to achieve the best results.
Progress in biomedical research requires the use of animal models – including non-human primates and
other mammals. We hope that your personal commitment to advancing science will be reflected in
policies at Air Canada that will allow important scientific research to move forward.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Jeff Smisek, Chairman, President and CEO, United Airlines
jeff.smisek@united.com
As a scientist, I am deeply troubled to learn that United Airlines has decided to halt shipment of nonhuman primates and possibly other mammals for use in biomedical research. I urge the airline to
reconsider this decision. I ask that you continue transporting research animals allowing lifesaving
research around the world to continue.
Animal models, including non-human primates and other mammals, are essential to advancing our
understanding of and eventually finding cures for blinding diseases and disorders such as glaucoma and
age-related macular degeneration, as well as Alzheimer's disease, HIV/AIDS, malaria, Parkinson's
disease, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury. Airline transportation ensures that laboratory animals
are available for lifesaving biomedical research. Universities, medical and veterinary schools and
research centers are all dependent on your airline to continue their groundbreaking research.
Moreover, air transportation of animals not only promotes good research; it also promotes good animal
welfare. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has stated, “In today's modern world,
carriage of live animals by air is considered the most humane and expedient method of transportation
over long distances.” IATA ensures that both safety and animal welfare are addressed in all regulatory
issues pertaining to transportation of live animals by air.
A small but vocal group of extremists has been pushing this issue in an attempt to halt all research
involving animal models. The extremists’ numbers are dwarfed by the millions who are dependent on
the discoveries brought about by humane, well-regulated animal research and the hundreds of
thousands of scientists around the world who devote their life’s work towards the advancement of
biomedical research. If "animal rights" extremists continue to sway airlines in the direction that your
company is taking, the impact on development of life-saving treatments will be devastating.
The significant role that animal models play in lifesaving research is undeniable. Almost every major
medical advance in the last century was made possible by carefully regulated, humane animal research.
In the U.S., Canada, European nations and others, stringent regulations and reviews protect the welfare
of animals used in research. Scientists are constantly aware that they must use animals appropriately
and humanely, and that they must design their studies to utilize as few animals and as many alternative
techniques as possible to achieve the best results.
Progress in biomedical research requires the use of animal models – including non-human primates and
other mammals. We hope that your personal commitment to advancing science will be reflected in
policies at United Airlines that will allow important scientific research to move forward.
Yours sincerely,