Etihad Airways, has signed a contract with Airbus to install the Sharklets wingtips on seventeen A320 aircraft on order with the aircraft manufacturer. The new wingtip devices measure 2.5 metres tall, replace the aircraft’s current wingtip fence and according to Airbus will reduce fuel burn particularly over longer sectors.
Deliveries of the Sharklet-equipped A320s to Etihad Airways will commence in the third quarter of 2013. The Abu Dhabi based carrier started taking delivery of its twenty A320s on order in the last quarter of 2011.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways' president and chief executive officer, said: “In today’s climate, our airline is fully focused on maximizing the environmental efficiency of the entire fleet.
“By growing our fleet with the modern, fuel efficient Sharklet-equipped A320, we’ll be able to reduce fuel burn which is central to our goal of growing profitability in the years ahead.”
Today, Etihad Airways’ fleet of Airbus aircraft comprises 50 Airbus passenger aircraft (17 A320 Family, 33 A330/A340 Family) and two A330-200 Freighter aircraft. The additional 43 aircraft to be delivered from existing orders, including 10 A380s, will grow Etihad Airways’ total Airbus fleet to 95 aircraft.
John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer, customers, added, “We are very happy to see Etihad join the increasing number of carriers selecting our new fuel-saving Sharklets.
“The A320 already has the best economics and highest reliability of any single-aisle aircraft today. To further boost the aircraft’s productivity by adding the Sharklet, makes good business sense.
Offered as an option on new-build aircraft from the end of 2012. As announced by Airbus, the new wing tip devices will result in around 3.5 percent reduced fuel burn over longer sectors, corresponding to an annual CO2 reduction of around 1,000 tonnes per aircraft.
