Korean Air has paused shipments of adult roosters on flights from the United States to the Philippines after advocacy groups and news reports tied cargo routed through Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport to the international cockfighting trade. The decision cuts off what investigators describe as a key air corridor that funneled high-value fighting birds from North Texas breeders to derbies abroad.
Animal welfare investigators say the change followed months of undercover work and public pressure. According to Animal Wellness Action, its inquiry helped persuade Korean Air to halt rooster shipments to Manila, after documenting how the route was being used.
A local probe traced the activity to a Collin County broker. The Dallas Morning News reported that North Texas Livestock Shipping Services sent 58 hens and roosters through DFW in wooden crates, listing them as “for breeding” on permits, a label investigators say is commonly used as cover. Korean Air spokeswoman Diane Yang told The Dallas Morning News the airline “is firmly committed to the lawful and safe transport of live animals in accordance with applicable laws and regulations” and declined to say how long the pause would last.
How North Texas Became a Supply Line
Advocates say breeders and brokers across Texas and neighboring states have for years supplied fighting birds overseas, often leaning on “breeding” paperwork to clear customs. In its press release and related report, Animal Wellness Action says undercover investigators documented hundreds of fights at the World Slasher Cup in Manila and identified U.S. participants who transported birds on commercial flights.
Congress Moves to Close the Air Route
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are already trying to shut down the practice entirely. Rep. Troy Nehls has introduced the No Flight, No Fight Act, H.R. 7371, which would bar air carriers from knowingly transporting adult roosters, except for shipments to and from large commercial poultry farms. The bill, introduced on Feb. 4, 2026, is available in full on GovInfo.
Federal Law and Enforcement Hurdles
Transporting animals for the purpose of fighting is already prohibited under federal law. The Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2156), as published in the U.S. Code, makes it unlawful to buy, sell or transport animals for use in fighting ventures. But legal experts and advocates say proving intent in international shipments is difficult, and a Congressional Research Service analysis outlines why enforcement has lagged despite the statutory ban.
What Comes Next for DFW
DFW officials have said the airport does not control cargo permits and that federal authorities maintain oversight. The Collin County property owner tied to the shipments told reporters he has stopped sending birds since the reporting drew attention, according to The Dallas Morning News. Advocates have welcomed Korean Air’s policy change but warn it is only one piece of the puzzle, arguing that Congress, regulators and prosecutors will need to use new tools to cut off demand and hold traffickers accountable, or the trade may simply shift to other carriers and routes.
