Etihad Airways Selects Sharklets for New Airbus A320s

Etihad Airways has signed a contract with Airbus to equip 17 of its future A320s on order, with Airbus’ fuel saving Sharklets.

The new wingtip devices measure 2.5 metres tall, replace the aircraft’s current wingtip fence and will reduce fuel burn particularly over longer sectors.

Deliveries of the Sharklet-equipped A320s to Etihad Airways will begin in the third quarter of 2013.

The Abu Dhabi-based carrier started taking delivery of its 20 A320s on order in the last quarter of 2011. Once in service, the A320s equipped with Sharklets will make Etihad Airways’ single-aisle fleet one of the most modern and fuel efficient in the Middle East.

Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan, 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.”

Offered as an option on new-build aircraft from the end of 2012, the devices increase payload-range and improve take-off performance. Airbus says that the new wing tip devices will result in around 3.5% reduced fuel burn over longer sectors, corresponding to an annual CO2 reduction of around 1,000 tonnes per aircraft.

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