TUI-owned Thomsonfly and First Choice Airways report a cut in the carbon dioxide emissions of their flights by 24,000 tonnes in the past financial year.
The joint fleet of 80 aircraft used 8,000 tonnes less fuel than would have been the case through a combination of reducing aircraft weight, changing flight patterns and taxiing at airports on one engine rather than two.
However, the saving amounts to just 1.25% of total emissions.
The group reported the average CO2 emissions per passenger on First Choice Airways was almost half that on British Airways – 77.5 grams per passenger per kilmetre compared with 143 grams at BA according to a report by Environmental Data Services. The average aboard Thomsonfly was 80 grams.
TUI UK and Ireland managing director Dermot Blastland said: “We are one of the few airlines that publish CO2 emmissions.”
Blastland said more than 35 per cent of First Choice passengers were choosing to pay £1 per booking that is split between a carbon-offset scheme and a 50p contribution to industry sustainable tourism charity the Travel Foundation.