German tourism company TUI Group has joined forces with Spanish energy entity Cepsa for the decarbonisation of air transport.
The agreement will promote the production and supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to lower carbon emissions in the aviation sector.
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Both companies aim to produce fuels from circular raw materials, which do not compete with food resources such as used cooking oils, non-food animal waste, or biodegradable waste from various industries.
These fuels are expected to cut down aircraft emissions by up to 80% in comparison with conventional kerosene.
SAF can be produced from different feedstocks, including from biomass such as lipids, alcohols, residual or waste materials, as well as renewable energy.
TUI Group chief airline officer Marco Ciomperlik said: “We have set ourselves ambitious reduction targets for TUI Airlines, which are currently being validated by the independent Science Based Targets initiative. SAF plays a crucial role in reducing emissions in aviation and for TUI.”
The agreement aligns with the European Commission’s Fit for 55 package that covers a legislative initiative known as ‘RefuelEU Aviation’.
It aims to optimise the supply and demand of aviation biofuels in the European Union to 2%, 5%, and 63% use by 2025, 2030, and 2050, respectively.
The partnership will focus on several 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 7, SDG 12, and SDG 13.
Cepsa aviation and asphalts director Tobi Pardo said: “This new alliance to create more sustainable forms of air transport reinforces our commitment to offering increasingly low-carbon solutions for our customers.”
