ECS Group and TUI have entered into the first SAF partnership between an airline and ECS, the GSSA (General Sales & Service Agent). ECS Group contributes 1% SAF towards the incremental fuel burn associated with the cargo carried on all TUI flights, and forwarders can opt in to contribute 10% SAF for the transport of their shipments.
The SAF cooperation between ECS Group and TUI began in August 2022. Since then, ECS Group has been financing a 1% SAF blend on all TUI flights. Freight forwarders have the option of contributing to a 10% SAF blend by way of a SAF surcharge which is booked under Other Charge Due Carrier.
âAir cargo accounts for around 0.4% of global CO2 emissions â equivalent to the emissions of the entire country of Germany. This figure is expected to increase as the air cargo industry continues to grow,â says Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group. That is why, at ECS Group, we are contributing to a 1% SAF blend on all TUI flights in this first ever SAF partnership between a GSSA and an airline â and it will not be the last.â
Participation in the SAF support scheme is possible across the entire network.
âECS Group has identified short, medium, and long-term priorities to drive Sustainability forward within our business and ultimately the industry. Environmental impact is one of our top priorities, and we are defining a consistent action plan to reduce our carbon emissions and bring our commitments in line with the UN Paris climate agreement. We see in this first SAF partnership with TUI a clear and major opportunity to positively impact our scope 3 emissions,â says Adrien Thominet. âWe monitor and evaluate our performance to ensure maximum progress.â
âSustainability is a top priority for TUI. Reducing CO2 emissions across our hotels, airlines and cruise divisions significantly is a key commitment of TUI Groupâs Sustainability Agenda. We have set emission reduction targets for 2030 that have been approved by the independent Science Based Targets initiative. This partnership between TUI and ECS supports the sustainability transformation journey we are on. By joining forces, we can make a difference.” Says Leen Vander Kuylen, Director of Supplier Management & Procurement, TUI Airline.
* SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) shall be either
- co-processed with raw bio material from Annex IX (Part A or Part B) from the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II)
- Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene made from used cooking oil or waste animal fat feedstocks with a minimum of 65% GHG reductions vs the EU RED II Fossil Fuel Comparator baseline;
In either case shall be certified as to its sustainability by either the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification organisation or the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials
About TUI Group
The TUI Group is one of the world’s leading tourism groups and operates worldwide. The Group is headquartered in Germany. TUI shares are listed in the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, in the regulated market of the Lower Saxony Stock Exchange in Hanover and in the FTSE 250, an index of the London Stock Exchange. TUI Group offers its 19 million customers integrated services from a single source and forms the entire tourism value chain under one roof.
The Group owns over 400 hotels and resorts with premium brands such as RIU, TUI Blue and Robinson and 16 cruise ships, ranging from the MS Europa and MS Europa 2 in the luxury class and expedition ships in the HANSEATIC class to the Mein Schiff fleet of TUI Cruises and cruise ships operated by Marella Cruises in the UK. The Group also includes Europe’s leading tour operator brands and online marketing platforms, for example for hotel-only or flight-only offers, five airlines with more than 130 modern medium- and long-haul aircraft and around 1,200 travel agencies. In addition to expanding its core business with hotels and cruises via successful joint ventures and activities in vacation destinations, TUI is increasingly focusing on the expansion of digital platforms. The Group is transforming itself into a global tourism platform company.
Global responsibility for sustainable economic, environmental and social action is at the heart of our corporate culture. With projects in 25 countries, the TUI Care Foundation initiated by TUI focuses on the positive effects of tourism, on education and training and on strengthening environmental and social standards. In this way, it supports the development of vacation destinations. The globally active TUI Care Foundation initiates projects that create new opportunities for the next generation.