Sustainable Aviation

Thomsonfly is 50% more fuel efficient than 30 years ago. High density seat configurations, improved by the installation of new 'thin' leather seats and high occupancy combine to provide a lower emission rate per passenger than a comparable scheduled flight.

Thomsonfly's pilots continue to operate an internal initiative - the Clean Fly programme whenever conditions allow. The modern flight planning system in place ensures routes are planned with maximum efficiency. Thomsonfly is part of a UK industry wide project and strategy that is backed by the government to promote environmental improvements. http://www.sustainableaviation.co.uk/

Thomsonfly is also a corporate member of the British Air Transport Association Environmental Group and International Air Carriers Association (IACA) www.iaca.be Thomsonfly also has a cargo operation, increasing the utilisation of the aircraft space

 

What can you do about the CO2 that your flight produces?

Everyone is entitled to fly but please consider implementing some of the actions mentioned below that could reduce your own personal Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions and minimise the extra CO2 your flight will produce. It’s worth remembering that globally aviation is responsible for just 3% of total manmade CO2 emissions and there are much larger polluters.

When flying on Thomsonfly the average CO2 produced for carrying each passenger for an hour could be offset by replacing a 100 watt light bulb with an 18 watt energy efficient bulb over the course of a year. Although people will still fly they are reducing the amount of CO2 produced in the generation of electricity and offsetting the CO2 produced in everyday life. Replacing three 100 Watt light-bulbs with 18 Watt efficient-light bulbs will save the same amount of CO2 as a passenger’s CO2 emissions from a return flight to Spain.

Turning appliances that are usually on standby off will also help save nearly 8% of each households CO2. Over the course of a year this amounts to more CO2 wasted than generated by a return flight to Alicante. If you add the total CO2 wasted by all UK households through appliances left on standby it is approximately the same as Thomsonfly generates in 3 years of flying.

Since 2003 Crystal Holidays has made it possible for customers to pay to offset the carbon emissions of their flight with global climate change company Carbon Neutral, then named Future Forests. Crystal continues to offer this option for bookings on all of its range of holidays. www.carbonneutral.com

 

Aviation Mythbuster

Myth: Aviation gets a £9bn subsidy from the government as it doesn’t pay tax on kerosene.

FALSE – This figure is calculated by adding vehicle duty to aviation fuel (£5.7bn) and VAT to UK originating flights (£4bn) and removing duty free allowance (£0.4bn) and deducting Air Passenger Duty (-£0.9bn).

The truth is aviation actually contributes £743m annually to the Exchequer whereas rail and bus together take a subsidy of £6.8bn annually. Aviation pays for its own infrastructure with the exception of £70million of government’s money that is invested in NATS (National Air Traffic Control System).

Myth: Aviation needs to pay more to cover the cost of the damage it is doing to the environment.

FALSE – The Department for Transport has calculated that APD (Air Passenger Duty: a charge that is levied by government on all departing passengers) already offsets the cost of aircraft CO2 emissions.

Myth: People should stop flying as much, we can manage without a two week holiday in the sun and it takes money out of the UK that could be spent on UK based holidays

Aviation supports the tourism industry which is the 5th largest industry in the world. Tourism generates nearly £25.3bn annually to the UK economy whilst the UK aviation industry contributes £11.4bn and employs over 180,000 people. Reducing the amount people fly would substantially reduce the economic benefit to the UK economy as well as substantially impacting overseas destinations such as Cyprus whose travel and tourism industry account for 23% of its GDP and nearly 30% of total employment.

Myth: Aviation generates more CO2 than any other sector

UK aviation accounts for just 0.1% of global CO2 and together the UK’s domestic and international aviation accounts for only 5.5% of total UK CO2 emissions. CO2 emissions from Household are 15% of the total UK CO2 total and road transport accounts for another 20%.

 

Fleet

In 2007 Thomsonfly will take delivery of three brand new Boeing 737-800 aircraft direct from the airline manufacturer. Thomsonfly has been working closely with Boeing to ensure that these new aircraft meet the airlines’ needs and increase the efficiency of the airline’s flying programme, therefore making it more environmentally friendly.

The aircraft produce noise and emission ratings well within current environmental standards. All modern aircraft have flight management computers that give optimum speed to climb, cruise and descend for minimum fuel consumption.

Thomsonfly operates an all Boeing fleet of 737,757 and 767 aircraft. Future aircraft replacements are continually under consideration and methods of practices to increase efficiency are constantly being investigated: http://www.boeing.com/

 

Flying Programme

Thomsonfly has built a great deal of experience and expertise since the airline began over forty years ago. In 2005 Thomsonfly replaced the Britannia Airways brand.

Thomsonfly operates from 24 UK airports to over 80 destinations overseas. Regional departures limit the need for passengers to travel large distances before reaching their departure airport.

Thomsonfly carries passengers as part of the holidays for Thomson and many other UK tour operators, and increasingly passengers who are using the flight schedule either for business or their own independent leisure travel.

 

Onboard recycling and waste

Thomson's Your Holiday Your Choice initiative launched in 2003 considerably reduced the associated waste of inflight meals by giving customers the choice of whether a meal was loaded for them. The majority of catering equipment is returned to the third party caterer for recycling and reuse.

Thomsonfly is currently trialing onboard recycling of aluminium cans and hopes to be able to roll the initiative out across the whole flying programme.

Thomsonfly's cabin crew continue to work towards a paperless operation. Cabin crew use small handheld display units (PDAs) to replace volumes of manuals and paperwork. Pilot's laptops give them access to route and weather update and the latest safety and technical information.

 

Rescue flights

Thomsonfly and the Born Free Foundation have been working together to protect wildlife since 1995 through fundraising, awareness building and rescue of animals. £2.5m has now been raised in onboard donations.

Significant projects include Polar Bear Surrogacy project, Big Cats in Mexico, Great Apes Survival Project and Traveller's Alert which encourages passengers to inform Born Free of animal cruelty and suffering they witness when travelling.

http://www.bornfree.org.uk/travellers.alert/index.html

Following the Asian Tsunami Thomsonfly carried essential relief cargos and rescue workers to the affected area.

The Thomsonfly website and the flights section of the Thomson site provide information on travel by public transport to all the airline's destinations and information about how to access the UK airports by public transport.

Thomson's Your Holiday Your Choice option allows customers to book a coach transfer in many destinations, on modern and efficient buses limiting the need for passengers to use individual taxis.

While Thomson ships offer the comforts of a luxurious hotel it is the scene outside that makes cruising so special. Stunning landscapes, beautiful cities and glorious beaches are the essence of a cruise holiday so Thomson recognises the importance of operating responsibly in these environments. Thomson offers cruises on five cruise ships Thomson Spirit , Thomson Destiny, Thomson Celebration, The Emerald and new for 2007 Calypso. Thomson offers fly cruises and also ex-UK cruises - which enable passengers travel by public transport to their departure port. Passenger briefings are held on board and information is provided for each port of call to ensure that passengers have an understanding and respect of the local culture and environment.