Can Tourism be Sustainable? Here is easyJet's Bold Plan

In 2023, it was estimated that 55.5 million UK residents travelled abroad for a holiday, emitting more than 12.7 tonnes of CO₂e per person.

In line with travel emissions, easyJet holidays has released its first Impact Report, outlining the company’s commitment to cheap holidays, whilst extending this to make more sustainable holidays.

The report focuses on three key pillars of its ESG strategy, in its ‘Holiday Better’ to initiate sustainable holidays.

Inside easyJet’s report

While covering key ESG initiatives, the report aims to exhibit the company’s impact and progress throughout 2024 and support easyJet holidays’  collaborations with organisations and individuals.

Collaboration will help to move ambitions forward, combining industry expertise and influence with innovative thinking and problem-solving skills.

The three core goals that guide the ESG strategy are:

• Create better holiday choices
• Keep holidays special
• Transform travel for everyone

“Our first Impact Report marks a significant milestone for us on our journey to support our customers to Holiday Better, and whilst we’re proud of what we’ve achieved so far, in collaboration with our partners, it’s clear that now is the time to deliver progress in order to meet both short and long term targets,” explains Matt Callaghan, easyJet Holidays’ Chief Operating Officer.

“That’s why we believe in the need for pace over perfection. We’re focusing on solutions and partnerships to make our holidays more sustainable, and we’re using rapid implementation to trial projects and share our results with the industry.”

Creating better holiday choices

easyJet is aiming to make sustainable travel affordable and accessible to everyone, working with hotel partners. 

By collaborating with hotel partners, achieving globally recognised sustainability certifications will ensure all customers can make better holidays choices at no extra cost.

Linked to the animal welfare policy announced in March 2024, easyJet has banned all animal-related experiences that involve captivity or performances.

To further its sustainability efforts, easyJet holidays has launched electric vehicle transfers in Rhodes, Greece – reducing 27 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

“We have made a great start, and easyJet is on track to meet our interim target of 35% reduction in GHG emissions intensity by 2035,” comments Lahiru Ranasinghe, easyJet’s Director of Sustainability.  

“Nevertheless we have a challenging and exciting journey ahead and it is a privilege to take on the responsibility of guiding easyJet and the wider industry towards a more sustainable future.”

In partnership with its Destination Management Company in Greece and joined forces with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, easyJet offers a dedicated sustainable tourism course for hotel partners in Spain, Greece and Turkey. 

Results of these sustainable initiatives include:

• More than 300 hotels signing up for GSTC sustainability training
• 37% of the holiday providers best-selling properties are certified
• The new electric transfer fleet in Rhodes has transferred more than 5,200 passengers 152,000km, saving the equivalent of 27 tonnes of CO₂e.

The 2024 report states that 690,000 of the  2.42 million customers booked certified sustainable hotels.

Keeping holidays special

By supporting locally owned businesses and communities, easyJet holidays is looking to maximise the benefits and minimise the negative impacts of travel and tourism. 

With a focus on lesser-known destinations, easyJet holidays is looking to offer customers experiences away from urban tourist hotspots, whilst providing a range of socio-economic benefits to local economies – including employment. 

Destination Management Companies (DMCs) and the introduction of food waste reduction AI technology in Costa Adeje are just a few examples of how easyJet is transforming holidays.

The results from these include:

• 56% reduction in buffet waste at Bahia Principe Sunlight Costa Adeje following the implementation of the Winnow AI Technology partnership – leading to an estimated saving of more than €100,000 (nearly US$110,000) of food in one year
• Increased income for the tourism sector in Akureyri, Iceland, following the launch of easyJet holidays 2023 winter – providing more year-round jobs and reduced seasonality
• Delivering 99% local employment for destination management companies

“ABTA believes that travel and tourism is a powerful force for good: creating economic and social value, sustaining jobs, supporting businesses and boosting inward investment for destinations where many livelihoods depend on tourism,” explains Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive at ABTA.

“To deliver the benefits of tourism and address crucial environmental and social challenges, travel companies need to integrate sustainability into all areas of their business. We work with our members, destinations and other stakeholders on these issues.” 

Transforming travel for everyone

By embedding sustainability into business decisions and behaviours, easyJet Holidays is looking to drive meaningful change within the industry

The company is prioritising working towards solutions to the biggest issues and asking better of themselves and partners in the supply chain.

As part of this easyJet Holidays has formed key partnerships with: 

• UN Tourism: Working to develop the first tourism specific ESG Framework, including an investigative survey with hundreds of hotel and DMC partners, showcasing the wider supply chains engagement in sustainability practices
• ICRT Global: As a founding partner of the not-for-profit organisation, easyJet holidays is providing support towards ICRT Global training courses – helping to improve education and knowledge sharing on responsible tourism
• ABTA: working closely with the UK’s leading travel association on sustainability in travel and making progress towards joint ESG goals

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