TUI Airways Plans to Boost Seat-Only Sales With More Boeing 737 Max

TUI Airways (BY, London Luton) expects accelerated deliveries of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to support its strategy of expanding seat-only sales and reducing reliance on traditional tour operator packages, according to TUI Group’s chief airline officer, Marco Ciomperlik.

“In the EU we have quite a significant seat-only share, but the UK is more tour operator–integrated,” Ciomperlik said during a U.K. industry conference, as reported by TTG. Currently, around 90% of TUI’s seats in the UK are sold as part of tour packages. By contrast, the group’s European carriers—TUI fly Belgium, TUI fly Netherlands, TUI fly Germany and TUI fly Nordic—sell a much higher proportion of seats independently, with Belgium seeing 40–70% seat-only bookings.

TUI had planned to expand its UK seat-only business earlier this year but was delayed by Boeing delivery setbacks. According to ch-aviation data, TUI Airways operates twenty-three Boeing 737-8s, thirty-two Boeing 737-800s, eight Boeing 787-8s and five Boeing 787-9s.

“We struggled in 2025 because we did not see any deliveries,” Ciomperlik said. “From this winter, we will have up to 20 deliveries from Boeing. They will replace older Boeing 737s and grow volume. We will have six to seven more aircraft in the UK next summer.”

Across the group, TUI’s EU airlines collectively operate two Boeing 737-700s, twenty-four 737-8s, twenty-four 737-800s, five 787-8s, one 787-9 and three E195-E2s. Ciomperlik noted that the upcoming deliveries—which are expected from winter through early summer—will both replace 737-800s and contribute to growth.

A TUI spokesperson confirmed to ch-aviation that the new Boeing 737-8s will replace older -800s and wet-leased aircraft, keeping overall capacity stable.

Related News: https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/airline-finance/

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com