Travel Places has created a new sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) fund in partnership with British Airways to help clients reduce their carbon footprint from air travel.
The UK-based travel management company, which specialises in organising group travel for the sports, media and entertainment industries, will give clients the chance to purchase SAF supplied to BA through the airline’s existing deal with UK production company Phillips 66.
This form of sustainable fuel is manufactured using waste cooking oil and can cut emissions by up to 80 per cent compared with traditional jet fuel. Phillips 66 uses existing pipelines into London Heathrow airport to provide the fuel to BA.
The new initiative will see Travel Places’ clients receive a certificate when buying SAF, followed by further certification once the fuel has been supplied.
Nick Warren, joint managing director of Travel Places, said: “We are committed to developing solutions that will support our clients as they continue to make progress towards ambitious sustainability goals.
“It is by working together that we can have the greatest positive impact, so we are delighted to be working with British Airways on this initiative, which demonstrates our shared commitment towards a more sustainable future for our industry.”
Last year, Travel Places was certified under the ISO 20121: Sustainable Event Management standard, which is designed to help clients make their events more sustainable.
Carrie Harris, director of sustainability at British Airways, added: “By Travel Places giving its clients the opportunity to purchase SAF, companies are able to better understand and address their emissions and support the advancement, production and commercial rollout of SAF to help reduce aviation’s reliance on fossil fuels.”
More TMCs are now offering clients the chance to buy SAF to reduce their “indirect” Scope 3 emissions from business travel. SAF features as one of the key industry developments to watch out for this year in BTN Europe’s Hotlist 2023.