Air China Cargo, a part of Air China, made history after banning shark fin cargo aboard its flights, the first mainland aviation company to do so. Air China Cargo manages cargo shipment on commercial aircraft and freight planes of the airlines.

With its new policy, Air China has joined the ranks of 36 airlines globally that have instituted such ban. The company said on Friday that it is committed to help in promoting global sustainability. A statement published on its website said, "Therefore, on the issue of shark fin, we reiterate our 'No Shark Fin' carriage policy."

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The news comes on the heels of another environment-related announcement made by China. The country announced its plan to ban the domestic ivory trade in order to put an end to elephant poaching. These actions have been widely welcomed by international community.

Alex Hofford, a wildlife activist from the conservation group WildAid in Hong Kong, praised the decision and said that the airlines took "an ethical stance." He compared the airlines to FedEx, which despite repeated requests, has not taken the similar step.

It is reported that 17 global container shipping lines and 35 other airlines have signed up to support the campaign for banning shark fin shipment. Another Chinese shipping company, China Cosco Shipping, is also a part of the alliance.

According to a report released by China last year, the shark fin import in the country declined by 82 percent between 2011 and 2014. Shark fin soup is widely considered a delicacy in China.

TagsAir China Cargo, Air China, Shark Fin, FedEx