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Jet2 has announced a significant change to its travel packages, affecting the availability of excursions across the 24 countries it flies to.
Holidaymakers booking through the provider’s tour operator, Jet2holidays, no longer have the option to purchase tickets to marine parks that confine orcas, dolphins, and whales for entertainment purposes, in a move praised by animal rights organisations.
The new rule came into effect as of Wednesday March 27, 2024, as confirmed by the company in a statement. However, it reassured customers that all existing bookings will be honoured.
A spokesperson from Jet2 commented: ‘A key driver of our success is the fact that we continually review every element of our operation, and as part of that process we encourage and welcome feedback from a range of stakeholders.
‘This has enabled us to build an award-winning business which, as well as leading the industry for customer service, is also the UK’s largest tour operator.
‘Consequently, and following a thorough end-to-end review, Jet2holidays will no longer sell tickets to venues which feature cetaceans (orcas, whales and dolphins) for entertainment.’
The move was commended by PETA, which has been actively campaigning on this issue for nearly two years, organising demonstrations and issuing over 100,000 protest letters to members of the public, scientists, conservationists, and organisations specialising in cetacean welfare.
At a venue in Tenerife previously offered as part of Jet2holidays’ package deals, three orcas died prematurely within a span of two years, including Ula, who was only two years old.
Elisa Allen, vice president of programs at PETA commented: ‘Jet2holidays made the right decision to sever ties with parks that confine orcas and other dolphins in concrete tanks, which to them are the size of bathtubs, and force them to perform circus-like stunts for human entertainment.’
The organisation highlights that while orcas in the wild form complex relationships, cooperate to find food, and traverse up to 150 miles of ocean daily, those in marine parks are ‘kept in incompatible groups in cramped tanks’.
Jet2holidays is the latest travel firm to cut ties with what have been described ‘animal prisons’, joining Expedia, Thomas Cook, British Airways Holidays, Virgin Atlantic Holidays, and Club Med.
Love Island stars Faye Winter, Olivia Bowen and Belle Hassan previously all called on Jet2 to end their association with marine parks, along with The Smiths frontman Morrissey who said: ‘Anyone who profits from this abuse should be ashamed.’
Vice-president of Loro Parque in Tenerife, Christoph Kiessling, said: ‘We are hugely grateful to Jet2 for the successful commercial partnership we have enjoyed over the years, and are sad that this is coming to an end.’
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