Under Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator programme, the two companies will work with the industry and suppliers to champion innovation in aviation.

The programme aims to engage with policy makers in order to promote wider adoption of sustainable technologies.

Selected for the programme, the Boeing 757, which is 20% more fuel efficient than the Boeing 727 and meets worldwide standards for engine emissions, will for the next year be fitted with a selection of technologies and receive technical validation and operational testing in 2015.

Additionally in 2015, the ecoDemonstrator 757 Flight Test Airplane will visit a number of cities in Europe to showcase the new environmental technologies.

At the end of the development programme the businesses will test a recycling method for improving recovery and reuse of the aircraft’s materials.

TUI Travel deputy chief executive Johan Lundgren said: “The ecoDemonstrator programme sets a benchmark in research and development – it has the potential to drive meaningful change in the industry and we look forward to being a part of the programme.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ director of environmental performance, product Development for Jeanne Yu added: “Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator program provides opportunities to accelerate new technologies that have a real environmental benefit to the industry”.

In August, TUI Travel announced that it achieved its carbon reduction target of 6% two years ahead of schedule, helping save the company £16m in 2012.

The reduction was due to operational efficiencies, fuel conservation activities, capacity amendments and airline enhancements, according to the group’s Sustainable Holidays report.

Leigh Stringer

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