AirAsia will become the first operator of the
A320 with ‘Sharklets’ when it takes delivery of the first A320
equipped with these fuel-saving wing-tip devices at the end of
this year.
The aircraft exhibited on static and flying
display at the ILA Berlin Air Show is the flight test aircraft for
CFM engines and will also be delivered to AirAsia in 2013.
"The A320 has played a key role in our success,
enabling us to offer our passengers the lowest fares possible and completely redefine short haul travel in Asia.” said Tony Fernandes, AirAsia Group CEO. “Now we are looking forward to become the first airline in the world to start operating this most
fuel-efficient aircraft.”
Sharklets will be fitted on previously
ordered, newly-built A320s for AirAsia, scheduled for delivery
from the end of 2012.
They are expected to result in close to 4% fuel
savings on longer sectors, corresponding to an annual CO2
reduction of around 1,000 tonnes per aircraft.
Altogether, AirAsia
has ordered a total of 375 single aisle aircraft, comprising 200
A320neo and 175 A320ceo, of which 103 have been delivered to date.
See also:
HD Videos from the Singapore Airshow 2010,
HD Videos from Asian Aerospace 2011,
HD Videos from Singapore Airshow 2012
and
HD Videos from Farnborough 2012
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