https://liveandletsfly.com/united-cargo-firearms/



UNITED AIRLINES’ CARGO DIVISION BANS THE SHIPMENT OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION

MATTHEW KLINT POSTED ONSEPTEMBER 17, 2021



If you want to ship your firearm, weapon, ammunition, or even parts using United Airlines’ Cargo division, you will have the find another carrier. United has just announced that it is suspending the transport of such items.

United Cargo Bans Weapons Transport

A memo reviewed by Live and Let’s Fly notes the immediate suspension of the shipment of firearms, weapons, firearm parts, and ammunition on all United flights as cargo.

Due to the increase in regulations and controls for handling these items in different countries around the world, we have made the decision to suspend these items until we have the processes and procedures to do so without risk.

The new policy went into effect on September 16, 2021.

What is a firearm according to United? United defines firearms, guns, and weapons as objects capable, or appearing capable, of discharging a projectile by the action of an explosive and causing injury or death. Included in this category are parts or modifiers for firearms or guns.

Practically for cargo customers, all weapons and their components will be banned:

Cargo shipments containing any type of firearm, whether for personal, military, or sporting use, will no longer be accepted on any United Airlines flight until further notice.
United Cargo will no longer accept modifiers or parts for firearms or guns including scopes or frames.
United Cargo will no longer accept any ammunition including cartridge cases, primers, bullets, or propellant powder designed for use in any firearm.
This new restriction is limited to United Cargo. United Airlines passengers will continue to be allowed to check firearms before their flight at the airport counter. This new restriction more likely implicates gun manufacturers, gun shops, and potentially military clients who may have used United Cargo in the past to ship weapons.

United says “this may be temporary” but explained to employees, “Several shipments of firearms have generated regulatory interest. Limited methods of controlling risk in this space require complete restriction.” Translation: shipping arms is more trouble than its worth.

CONCLUSION

While United Airlines is not prohibiting customers from checking their personal firearms prior to a flight, it will no longer offer cargo shipments of any weapons or weapon components. The move is marked as “temporary” but blamed on a complex regulatory environment, suggesting that it will not be short-lived.

Some Key wording.

quote:

United Airlines passengers will continue to be allowed to check firearms before their flight at the airport counter.

Since I use United Cargo for my firearms import business, this could be a real issue for me.

This is becoming a wider issue. On Singapore Airlines website they state that they follow the usual rules about firearms must be in a locked case in the hold and not more than 5kg of ammo. When I contacted them to notify that I would be taking firearms from the UK to New Zealand next month they replied that they will not transport firearms under any circumstances. They have had a return business class fare from the UK to NZ for two people out of me every year for a long time. Never again!