Qantas to end promotion of attractions featuring captive cetaceans

Qantas has confirmed it will no longer promote attractions that keep captive cetaceans, assuring guests that it has a ‘responsibility as Australia’s largest airline’.

This follows news that both British Airways Holidays and Virgin Holidays have stopped selling tickets to similar attractions.

Qantas confirmed to Yahoo Lifestyle that it has also cut ties with attractions that use captive dolphins and whales.

While not naming any individual attractions, a Qantas spokesperson advised “we don’t promote these types of venues.

“As Australia’s largest airline we know we have a responsibility to ensure organisations we partner with meet our own expectations and that of the community.”

Earlier this month, British Airways Holidays announced a new partnership with international wildlife charity Born Free, with which it has developed an animal welfare strategy.

As part of the strategy, British Airways Holidays will no longer promote the captivity of wild animals and will no longer sell tickets to attractions where captive wild animals are “central to the attraction”.

Meanwhile, Virgin Holidays has stopped selling and promoting tourism attractions that have captive whales and dolphins, including US attractions SeaWorld and Discovery Cove.

In response to Virgin Holidays’ announcement, Dan Ashe, President and Chief Executive of the US-based Association of Zoos and Aquariums, said the body is “very disappointed”.

Responding to British Airway’s decision, SeaWorld Entertainment Chief Executive, Gus Antorcha stated "pressuring companies and trying to shame them into cutting ties with independently accredited zoos and aquariums works against the vital research and conservation work to protect these animals.”

Qantas has not indicated if the move will impact Sea World on the Gold Coast, or any other specific attraction. Australia's Sea World - a division of Village Roadshow - has no affiliation with US-based SeaWorld Entertainment.

Image shows a scene from the influential 2013 documentary Blackfish - on the life of a killer whale (orca) at the Sealand of the Pacific attraction in the USA.