Cebu Pacific Bans Carriage of Shark Fin

Cebu Pacific has formalized a freight policy that bans the airline from transporting shark fin across its entire network.

The ban also extends to inflight meals, corporate events as well as any meals organized and hosted by the airline.

Atty. Jorenz Tanada, CEB VP for Corporate Affairs, said, “Cebu Pacific values biodiversity and marine life sustainability. We are banning shark fin carriage effective immediately as we learned that unsustainable shark fishing and our carriage of shark fin is not aligned with CEB’s position on sustainable development. We have been working closely with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in our efforts to address some of the most pressing environmental concerns including climate change and marine life preservation.”

WWF estimates 73 million sharks are killed yearly for their fins and flesh.

WWF-Philippines Vice-chair and CEO Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, said, “For several years now, Cebu Pacific passengers have helped fund WWF's conservation efforts in our two great Philippine reefs - Tubbataha in Palawan and Apo in Mindoro. Cebu Pacific's decision to make this new counterpart gesture in support of the conservation of Philippine sharks will most certainly help disrupt the transport chains that fuel this highly destructive trade. WWF lauds this decision as a manifestation of Cebu Pacific's continuing commitment to conserve marine biodiversity and promote sustainable fisheries, here in the Philippines. As we face a climate-defined future, it is the right thing to do.”

CEB currently operates a fleet of 50 aircraft comprised of 10 Airbus A319, 28 Airbus A320, 4 Airbus A330 and 8 ATR-72 500 aircraft. Between 2014 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 11 more Airbus A320, 30 Airbus A321neo, and 2 Airbus A330 aircraft.