Cebu Pacific F-WWIK-5442 A320-214 will become the Philippine first A320 aircraft equipped with fuel-saving wing-tip devices known as "sharklets". Airbus EVP-Programs Tom Williams said the Airbus’ sharklets paves the way for airlines to benefit from savings in fuel of around 4% from existing airframes without them and will be the new standard for all A320 platform.
Sharklets are made from light-weight composites and are 2.4 metres tall. These newly designed wing-tip devices reduce fuel burn and emissions by improving the aerodynamics of the aircraft significantly and will offer the flexibility to A320 Family operators of either adding around 100 nautical miles more range or allowing increased payload capability of up to 450 kilogrammes.
Air Asia became the first airline to take delivery of sharklet-equipped A320s this year followed by Cebu Pacific delivery scheduled for January next year. Sharklets are now offered as standard for all new-build aircraft, as well as for the A320neo Family.
Currently, more than 8,600 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and more than 5,300 delivered to more than 350 customers and operators worldwide, making it the world’s best selling commercial jetliner.
Its latest model and future platform, the A320neo has 1,500 firm orders from more than 30 customers since its launch, and is the fastest selling commercial aircraft ever slated to enter service from 2015. |