Following discussions with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, international airline Air India has confirmed that it has stopped transporting animals to laboratories, where they are cruelly confined, painfully experimented on and eventually killed. In an e-mail to PETA India, Air India confirmed that a circular was sent to all stations in its network that instructs them not to accept animals who are being transported for experimental purposes andthat the situation will be closely monitored. The decision came after PETA India showed the airline a copy of an airway bill that showed that Air India transported ashipment of animals for experimental purposes. PETA India is now contacting allother Indian carriers and urging them to make the same humane commitment.

“Air India is now among the enlightened airlines that refuse to transport dogs, cats, primates and other animals to laboratories, where they would suffer and die”, says PETA UK Associate Director Mimi Bekhechi. “Air India has set an example for the dwindling number of airlines that still profit from animal suffering to follow.”

Every year, experimentation facilities across the UK and around the world squander valuable time and resources as well as millions of pounds by conducting experiments on monkeys, dogs, rabbits, rats, mice and other animals, even though animal experiments often do not reliably predict specific consequences for human health. Air India joins a growing list of airlines – including British Airways, Air Lingus, American, Delta, Lufthansa, and Virgin Atlantic – that refuse to ship animals of any species to laboratories. Only a small handful of airlines – such as Air France, China Eastern Airlines, United Airlines subsidiary Continental Cargo, Philippine Airlines and Vietnam Airlines – continue this practice. Earlier this month, after a vigorous campaign by PETA US supported by PETA UK and other PETA affiliates, Air China stopped transporting primates destined for laboratories. PETA India’s correspondence with Air India is available upon request. For more information about the transport of live animals for experiments, please visit PETA.org.uk