AirAsia to Become First Airbus A320 Sharklets Operator

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

See other recent news regarding: Travel News Asia, Interviews, Pictures, Sports Tourism, Videos, AirAsia, Airbus, Tune Hotels, AirAsia X, Sharklets