TUI saves money and hits carbon target

TUI saves £16m from green measures as their airlines hit carbon reduction target two years early

TUI Travel’s airlines have achieved their carbon reduction target of 6% two years early. This reduction was achieved through a mixture of operational efficiencies, fuel conservation activities, capacity amendments and airline enhancements. The Group has now raised the target to a 9% relative carbon reduction within the original time scale (2008 – 2014) giving itself only two years to save an additional 3%. This progress is unique in the aviation industry.

TUI Travel PLC has launched its latest Sustainable Holidays Report. Following on from the launch of last year’s Sustainable Holidays Plan, this report tracks TUI Travel’s progress in the first year of its ambitious three year Plan. TUI Travel created the Plan to drive sustainability best practice across its global brands, having been a strong advocate for sustainable tourism for more than a decade.

 In the report TUI Travel claims that green business is good business after saving £16M during the 2012 financial year through environmental efficiencies. Data released today shows that the leading leisure travel group’s airlines are some of the best in Europe in terms of fuel and carbon efficiency. During 2013 the Group has made significant investments in cutting edge aviation technology such as:

• Receiving its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which is forecast to emit 20% less CO2 per passenger than comparable aircraft today
• The commitment to purchasing 60 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with improved fuel-efficiency (2018 delivery)
• Investment in the new innovative Split Scimitar Winglets, reducing fuel burn by an additional 2%

The Sustainable Holidays Plan comprises 20 challenging and measurable commitments, underpinning four over-arching and stretching goals. These are to operate Europe’s most fuel-efficient airlines and reduce carbon on the ground by 20,000 tonnes; to take 10 million customers on ‘greener and fairer’ holidays; and to be considered a leader in sustainable holidays by colleagues and customers.

Peter Long, Chief Executive of TUI Travel PLC said, "As a market leader, it is incumbent on us to pioneer sustainability change in the travel sector. Our objective is to deliver special travel experiences designed for our customers’ ever changing needs. Customers trust us to live up to our sustainability vision of minimising environmental impact, respecting culture and people, and bringing economic benefit to communities. In doing so, we improve the quality of their holidays, and help preserve the destinations we all love to visit."

Jane Ashton, Director of Group Sustainable Development at TUI Travel said, "Travel and tourism accounts for 9% of the world’s GDP and 6% of its exports. Tourism also accounts for 1 in 11 jobs globally and is the main source of foreign exchange in one-third of developing countries The leisure travel industry can have both positive and negative impacts on communities and the natural environment – the challenge is how to manage these impacts for the greater good."

"In this report we outline TUI Travel’s first year of progress against the 2012-14 Sustainable Holidays Plan. Many of our targets are on track, but some are proving challenging, and in those instances we will re-double our efforts to make further progress by 2015."

See the report here: http://tuitravelplc.com/sustainable-holidays-report-2012

For more information about sustainability at TUI Travel visit: http://www.tuitravelplc.com/sustainability

Valere Tjolle

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