TCE is helping TUI Airline transform the freight potential of its passenger network into a structured cargo business, combining commercial development, customer management, operational coordination and regulatory compliance to unlock opportunities beyond its established leisure operations. Since January 2019, TCE has provided the specialist organisation supporting TUI Airline’s cargo activities, enabling the passenger carrier to pursue airfreight opportunities without diverting its teams from their core business. Its remit spans sales and marketing, customer service, booking coordination, capacity management, operational support, quality assurance and security compliance. The partnership reflects a wider commercial opportunity for passenger airlines: aircraft connecting holidaymakers to destinations can also carry airfreight, creating an additional revenue stream from existing network capacity. Realising that potential, however, requires more than available space. It calls for dedicated cargo expertise, established customer relationships and coordination across the entire shipment journey. “Aircraft capacity creates an opportunity, but expertise turns it into a business. We bring together the commercial relationships, operational coordination and compliance support that TUI Airline needs to develop its cargo activity,” said Sarah Scheibe, Managing Director of TCE. She added that the objective is to make the airline’s capacity accessible to freight customers through a professionally managed service. Connecting commercial promise with operational delivery For TUI Airline, cargo represents a way to maximise the value of its network while responding to demand for reliable airfreight solutions. TCE supports this ambition by acting as an extension of the airline’s organisation, linking commercial commitments with the operational processes required to move shipments through its network. Its responsibilities begin with business development, customer management and booking coordination, and extend to the operational support needed to translate enquiries and confirmed bookings into workable cargo movements. This integrated approach helps ensure that the capacity offered to customers is aligned with the airline’s operating requirements. The model also provides freight customers and handling partners with a dedicated point of contact and coordinated support. For TUI Airline, it brings together specialist resources across multiple functions under one organisation, avoiding the need to build an equivalent internal structure from the ground up. “A successful cargo product depends on every part of the operation working together. Customers need clear communication, handling partners need effective coordination and the airline needs confidence that its requirements are being met,” Scheibe said. She noted that managing these activities within one organisation helps maintain continuity from the first enquiry through to operational execution. Quality and compliance underpin growth As the cargo business develops, quality assurance and security remain integral to TCE’s role. The company manages cargo quality activities, coordinates audits and supports compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, including ACC3 validation processes where required. By integrating these responsibilities with commercial and operational management, the partnership places the necessary quality, safety and security considerations alongside business development. This helps ensure that opportunities to grow cargo volumes are supported by the standards and processes required for consistent service delivery. The arrangement also provides a framework for evaluating performance through verified operational and commercial data. Measures such as cargo volumes, revenue, capacity utilisation and service performance can help assess progress, identify opportunities and inform future decisions. TCE’s contribution therefore extends beyond sales support. Its market relationships help connect TUI Airline with freight customers, while its operational expertise and compliance oversight provide the structure needed to manage cargo as a coordinated business. Building on a long-term partnership The cooperation will continue to underpin TUI Airline’s cargo strategy, with TCE remaining its key partner in developing freight activity and making better use of available network capacity. “Our partnership with TUI Airline has developed through sustained cooperation and a shared focus on making cargo work within a passenger airline environment,” Scheibe said. She added that the focus remains on identifying commercial opportunities while maintaining the operational discipline, quality assurance and security oversight needed for long-term development. The partnership highlights the importance of an integrated approach to passenger-airline cargo. By bringing commercial development, customer support, operational coordination and compliance together, TCE provides TUI Airline with a dedicated framework to connect available capacity with market demand and further develop its freight offering across its network.