Airlines and AviationGuest ColumnMalaysia

AirAsia to fit ‘Sharklets’ to A320s

By On Sep 12, 2012

Pictured: Zaman Ahmad, AirAsia's Group Head of Customer Experience & Technology, and John Leahy, Airbus' Chief Operating Officer for Customers, stand in front of a static A320 with Sharklets at the ILA Berlin Air Show — Pictured: Zaman Ahmad, AirAsia’s Group Head of Customer Experience & Technology, and John Leahy, Airbus’ Chief Operating Officer for Customers, stand in front of a static A320 with Sharklets at the ILA Berlin Air Show

AirAsia will become the first operator of the Airbus A320 with ‘Sharklets’ by the end of this year.

The first A320 equipped with the fuel-saving wing-tip devices will be delivered to AirAsia in Q4 2012.

“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’s 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 AirAsia’s previously-ordered, newly-built A320s. Airbus claims they will offer close to 4% fuel savings on longer sectors.

AirAsia has ordered a total of 375 A320s, 103 of which have so far been delivered.

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