Jul 21 2010
Hainan Airlines, the first airline in China to operate with Blended Winglets, has committed to equip all future 737-800 aircraft deliveries with winglets. Hainan, which operates the largest fleet of winglet-equipped aircraft in China, assures that the 45 aircraft currently on order with Boeing will all operate with the revolutionary fuel-saving devices.
"Hainan has been enjoying the benefits of Blended Winglets for 8 years, so they know as well as anyone how the technology contributes to the bottom line," says Aviation Partners Boeing CEO John Reimers. "We appreciate Hainan's confidence in our product and value their partnership."
Blended Winglets are especially well suited for Hainan's operations which include a mix of long and short-range routes operated from some challenging airports at high utilization. In addition to fuel savings, the airline sees benefits from reduced engine takeoff thrust, reduced emissions, greater payload and range capability, and greater operational flexibility. The competitive market in China requires every airline to find advantages, and Blended Winglets are a visible advantage.
Blended Winglets on the 737-800 typically generate fuel savings of 3% or more, resulting in annual fuel savings of more than 100,000 gallons per airplane. Hainan is also considering Blended Winglets for its 767-300ER fleet, which would save more than 5% in fuel costs for that aircraft type.
Source: http://www.aviationpartnersboeing.com/