"We have since received more than 60 e-mails praising us for our decision," Pisit said. "From now on, passengers can have chicken or some kind of similar soup instead."

Environmentalists say more than 6,000 sharks are killed in Asian waters each year for the sole purpose of providing fins.

"They say that in several cases shark hunters have just chopped off the fins and let the shark die cruelly," he said.

Shark's fin is a glutinous soup made from boiling fins with vinegar, starch and flavourings. It is considered a delicacy in many Asian countries.