China_Eastern_Sharklets

China Eastern Airlines has taken the delivery of its first A320 equipped with Sharklets, becoming the first airline in China to operate the fuel-saving wing-tip.

The aircraft is also the first Sharklets-equipped A320 assembled and delivered in Tianjin.

Sharklets are an optional feature on the new-build A320 airliners, which are powered by CFM engines, and are standard on all the variants of the A320neo jets.

The wing-tip devices enable carriers to reduce fuel burn by up to 4% on long-haul routes, according to Airbus.

Made from lightweight composites, the 2.4m-tall Sharklets offer the flexibility of adding about 100nm of range or increasing payload capability of up to 992lbs.

Powered by IAE V2500 engines, the A320 features a two class cabin, seating 158 passengers with eight in business class and the remaining in economy.

The A320 made its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Dalian on 18 May.

China Eastern Airlines Flight Operations vice president Shu Mingjiang said that as the first and biggest Airbus customer in China, China Eastern and Airbus have long-term good cooperation.

"The wing-tip devices enable carriers to reduce fuel burn by up to 4% on long-haul routes."

"In the near future, China Eastern will further expand our sharklet equipped A320 family fleet," Mingjiang added.

Airbus COO customers John Leahy said that the company is delighted that China Eastern Airlines has taken delivery of its first Sharklet equipped A320.

"It is a mark of our close ties that the biggest Airbus fleet operator in China is also the first Chinese carrier to benefit from up to 4% reduction in fuel costs."

China Eastern is one of the leading airlines in China and was the first Chinese airline to operate Airbus aircraft in 1985.

It currently operates an Airbus fleet of over 230 aircraft including A300s, A319s, A320s, A321s, A330s and A340s.

Since June 2009, Airbus Tianjin Delivery Centre has delivered 126 aircraft and plans to deliver 46 aeroplanes in total in 2013.

The A320 family of aircraft has to date logged more than 9,400 orders and over 5,500 were delivered to more than 385 customers and operators across the world.


Image: The A320 features a two class cabin, seating 158 passengers with eight in business class and the remaining in economy. Photo courtesy of Airbus S.A.S.

Defence Technology