TUI Airline has taken a significant step forward in its commitment to sustainability by fully integrating the SITA OptiClimb® solution across all its five airline brands. This move is in line with the group’s sustainability agenda aimed at reducing airline emissions.
The decision to expand the use of SITA’s groundbreaking technology comes after its successful partial deployment, which resulted in savings of up to 200 kg of fuel and 600 kg of CO2 per aircraft daily.
Aircraft climb, being the most fuel-intensive phase of a flight, is where SITA OptiClimb® comes into play. This state-of-the-art predictive analytics tool harnesses machine learning to create tail-specific performance models. By integrating 4D weather forecasts and operational flight plan data, these models can predict various fuel burn scenarios. Consequently, pilots receive tailored climb speeds and acceleration levels for each flight, ensuring optimal fuel consumption without affecting flight durations.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) highlights that fuel accounts for nearly 30% of an airline’s operational costs and is the primary source of aviation emissions. To address this, airlines are turning to digital solutions like SITA OptiClimb®. These tools offer immediate fuel and emission reductions, supplementing long-term strategies such as sustainable aviation fuels and fleet upgrades.
SITA’s projections indicate that if every airline adopted the SITA OptiClimb® solution, there would be a staggering annual reduction of approximately 5.6 million tons of carbon.
In 2022, several TUI airlines partially adopted SITA OptiClimb®. Now, the solution is fully operational across all five airlines under the TUI Group umbrella, including TUI Airways, TUI fly Belgium, TUI fly Germany, TUI fly Netherlands, and TUI fly Nordic. The technology enabled TUI Airline to save an impressive 4,500 tons of fuel and reduce carbon emissions by 14,000 tons last year.
Marco Ciomperlik, Chief Airline Officer at TUI Group, emphasized the company’s commitment to achieving a 24% reduction in emissions from TUI Airline by 2030. He stated, “One of the strategies to achieve this target is by enhancing flight planning and fuel management using innovative technologies like SITA OptiClimb®.”
Yann Cabaret, CEO of SITA FOR AIRCRAFT, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, saying, “We’re thrilled to support TUI Group’s sustainability initiatives. Our goal is to accelerate the air transport industry’s journey to net-zero and enhance travel efficiency through innovation and technology.”
