Hanover, 3 June 2020

TUI and Boeing reach a comprehensive agreement to resolve 737 MAX grounding impacts

  • Large part of the financial impact incurred will be compensated over the next two years
  • New agreement on the delivery schedule allows more flexible fleet planning in times of the pandemic
  • New deliveries are postponed by an average of two years
  • Reduced investments in aircraft and reduced financing requirements for TUI for the coming years
  • Agreement strengthens liquidity of TUI Group

TUI and Boeing have agreed on a comprehensive package of measures to offset the consequences of the grounding of the 737 MAX. While the details of the agreement are confidential, it provides compensation which covers a significant portion of the financial impact, as well as credits for future aircraft orders. The compensation will be realised over the next two years. In addition, both parties have agreed to a revised delivery schedule for the 61 737 MAX aircraft on order, meaning that TUI will get fewer 737 MAX deliveries from Boeing than previously planned in the next several years. The associated payment schedules have been adapted accordingly. As a result of this less than half of the originally planned 737 MAX aircraft will be delivered to TUI in the next two years. On average, compared with the original scheduling, the 737 MAX deliveries will be delayed by approximately two years. This will significantly reduce TUI's capital and financing requirements for aircraft in the coming years and supports TUI's plan to reduce the size of fleet of its five European airlines in the wake of the Corona crisis. It was agreed not to disclose the financial details of the agreement.

Fritz Joussen, CEO of TUI Group, commented on the agreement with Boeing: "We have reached a fair agreement that strengthens our long-standing relationship with Boeing. The agreement provides TUI with compensation for a large part of costs that were incurred due to the grounding of the 737 MAX. The new delivery schedule gives us considerable flexibility because we will have fewer new aircraft delivered in the next years. This enables TUI to rapidly adapt its fleet growth to the currently challenging market environment. And it supports our plan to downsize the aircraft fleet and reduce the capital requirements for aircraft investments in the Group."

In March 2019, a worldwide flight ban was imposed on the 737 MAX, which also had an impact on the operations and fleet renewal plans of TUI Airlines. At the time of decommissioning, TUI´s airlines had 15 737 MAX aircraft in their fleets, with eight more scheduled for delivery in 2019. With its five airlines in Germany, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden TUI is one of Boeing's largest European customers for the 737 family.

About TUI Group

The TUI Group is one of the world's leading tourism groups and operates worldwide. The Group is headquartered in Germany. TUI shares are listed in the MDAX index of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and in the regulated market of the Lower Saxony Stock Exchange in Hanover. TUI Group offers its 19 million customers integrated services from a single source and forms the entire tourism value chain under one roof. The Group owns over 400 hotels and resorts with premium brands such as RIU, TUI Blue and Robinson and 17 cruise ships, ranging from the MS Europa and MS Europa 2 in the luxury class and expedition ships in the HANSEATIC class to the Mein Schiff fleet of TUI Cruises and cruise ships operated by Marella Cruises in the UK. The Group also includes Europe's leading tour operator brands and online marketing platforms, for example for hotel-only or flight-only offers, five airlines with more than 130 modern medium- and long-haul aircraft and around 1,200 travel agencies. In addition to expanding its core business with hotels and cruises via successful joint ventures and activities in vacation destinations, TUI is increasingly focusing on the expansion of digital platforms. The Group is transforming itself into a global tourism platform company.  

Global responsibility for sustainable economic, environmental and social action is at the heart of our corporate culture. With projects in 25 countries, the TUI Care Foundation initiated by TUI focuses on the positive effects of tourism, on education and training and on strengthening environmental and social standards. In this way, it supports the development of vacation destinations. The globally active TUI Care Foundation initiates projects that create new opportunities for the next generation.