Topics & Positions
Aviation
Air transport of the future: Sustainable and affordable
High government taxes, airport and air traffic control charges increase the cost of air travel in Germany – even for well-deserved annual holidays. At the same time, the industry is facing the challenge of reducing CO₂e emissions and becoming more sustainable. Our approach is to minimise CO₂e emissions by continuously investing in new and lower-emission aircraft. We want to use sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), reduce emissions to a minimum and continue to make affordable holidays possible in the future. To achieve this, we need clear framework conditions and reliable political support.
High costs jeopardize location – and make family holidays more expensive
The development of Germany as an aviation location has been extremely worrying since the years of the coronavirus crisis. In other European countries, air traffic has long since recovered to levels above those seen before the pandemic: in 2025, Europe reached an average of 106 per cent of 2019 levels. In the same year, Germany reached only around 89 per cent, falling further behind. Whereas 190 aircraft were in service on point-to-point routes from German airports before the pandemic, the figure today stands at just 130.
A key reason for this is the excessive government-imposed location costs, which have more than doubled since 2019. The German aviation industry must bear burdens that would be unthinkable elsewhere: for example, aviation security charges rose by up to 50 per cent in 2025 compared with the previous year – the cap was raised to 15 euros per passenger in January. Air traffic control charges rose by 40 per cent in 2025 – making Germany’s air traffic control the third most expensive in Europe. Added to this is the aviation tax. These costs make air travel significantly more expensive and put German airports and airlines at a disadvantage in international competition. The development affects travelers directly: rising ticket prices make family holidays more expensive than they need to be – and limit the variety of travel options. Yet the economic potential of a U-turn is enormous: the return of the 60 aircraft currently not operating in Germany would result in an increase in value added of four billion euros. That is why we are calling on policymakers:
- Aviation tax: The Bundestag has approved a partial reduction with effect from 1 July 2026 – a first step, but not enough. Anyone who really wants to boost the aviation sector should abolish this special levy altogether. Sweden has already taken this step.
- Aviation security: Security is a top priority and an important public interest. The federal government should therefore contribute more to the costs of aviation security personnel for passenger and baggage checks. In addition, the upper fee limit for security checks must be reduced to a competitive level.
- Air traffic control: In order to effectively reduce air traffic control charges, pro rata state funding should be considered. Germany should also follow the example of other European countries that have partially compensated for pandemic-related losses in air traffic control revenue with funds from the state budget.
Climate protection in aviation
When you travel, you leave a carbon footprint. This also applies to aviation, which accounts for around 2.5 per cent of global CO₂e emissions. This is why policymakers and the aviation industry have been working for years to reduce the climate impact of air travel. For example, European aviation has been included in EU emissions trading alongside the energy industry and energy-intensive industries since 2012. Emissions trading ensures that the aforementioned economic sectors reduce their CO₂e emissions over time. To this end, the amount of CO₂e certificates in the EU will gradually decrease by 62 per cent (previously 43 per cent) by 2030 compared with 2005 levels – this is what the European Parliament decided in April 2023 during the reform of the EU emissions trading system. Free allowances for the aviation sector have been phased out since 1 January 2026, apart from a limited support mechanism for uplift of SAF. In global air traffic, on the other hand, the CO2e compensation and reduction instrument CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) of the UN aviation organisation ICAO takes effect. Airlines have to pay for growth-related emissions – currently, around 130 states are participating. From 2027, participation will be mandatory for almost all ICAO members. The funds then flow into ICAO-certified climate protection projects.
Composition of Global CO₂ Emissions
Expand pioneering role
TUI Airline’s pioneering role is confirmed by the 2025 Airline Index published by the independent climate protection organisation atmosfair: Three of TUI Airline’s national subsidiaries occupy the top three places amongst the twelve airlines surveyed in the category “charter airlines”. In order to achieve our goals, we are firstly focusing on renewing our fleet with more emission-efficient aircraft. Secondly, we are taking operational measures: we are continuously improving our flight planning and optimizing our fuel management system. In 2024, the CO₂e emissions per passenger per kilometre of our airlines fell by 6.7 per cent compared to 2019. The third lever for achieving the reduction targets is sustainable aviation fuels.
Challenge: SAF
Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) directly reduce CO₂e emissions. One problem, however, is availability. SAF producers are currently unable to meet the growing demand. Whilst SAF is available at airports such as Amsterdam, it is almost entirely absent from many tourist airports such as Palma de Mallorca or Heraklion. The EU mandate to blend kerosene with SAF also places an additional financial burden on European airlines. SAF is three to five times more expensive than ordinary kerosene. Furthermore, synthetic aviation fuels (eSAF), for which a quota of 1.2 per cent will apply from 2030, are currently not at all available on the market. However, we are driving this key issue forward to make more sustainable travel of the future possible. We are partnering with various companies for the production and supply of SAF, for example with the Spanish energy company Moeve (formerly Cepsa). Such partnerships will help to increase the availability of more sustainable, non-fossil fuels – an important step towards more sustainable flying. Nevertheless, the SAF ramp-up also requires political support.
Building up capacity for more sustainable air travel
Policymakers can further improve the framework conditions for more CO₂e-efficient flying. Since 1 January 2025, fuel refuelled at EU airports must contain two per cent SAF. The additional costs for flights from Germany alone amount to 300 to 400 million euros per year. At the same time, the blending mandate must be supplemented by incentives for the production and use of SAF. Otherwise, European airlines will be at a competitive disadvantage compared to their non-European competitors who are not subject to similar SAF mandates.