You'll recall the backup with trophy shipments from West Africa developed when Air France banned all trophy shipments from their cargo holds early this season. Outfitters in CAR scrambled to arrange for Libyan Airlines to take trophies from Bangui to Paris. However, last month a number of trophies were stuck in Tripoli awaiting the next available slot aboard a Libyan Airlines aircraft. Those shipments have long since moved out to Paris where I'm told there is no problem expediting them to their final destination. According to Fred Duckworth of Duckworth Safaris, more shipments were expected to clear in the coming weeks. The delays are due to Libyan Airlines' lack of a dedicated cargo aircraft. That means trophies ship when there is available cargo space on passenger flights. Shipments simply have to wait their turn. "It is just a matter of being patient," says Duckworth.
I will continue to follow this situation. If Air France (and sister airline KLM) do not change their policies regarding trophy shipments for the next season, I'm prepared to call on the hunting community for an all-out boycott. If our trophies aren't good enough for their cargo holds, then their passenger service isn't good enough for us as hunters.
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