Jetstar Japan takes delivery of its first Sharklet-equipped A320

Jetstar Japan, a Japanese low-cost carrier, has received its first A320 aircraft fitted with Sharklet fuel-saving wing-tip devices.

Although Sharklet devices are standard on all variants of A320neo jets, they are an option on A320 aircraft.

Jetstar has become the first Japanese carrier to operate Sharklet-equipped A320 variants.

Replacing the current wing-tip fence on A320s, the sharklet wingtip devices are 2.4m tall and offer operators the flexibility of either adding a range of around 100nm or increased payload capacity of up to 450kg.

Jetstar Japan president Miyuki Suzuki said the new sharklet-equipped A320 will help the carrier save on fuel costs and allow them to continue offering low fares to customers.

"We are very happy to be the first operator of the latest version of the cost efficient A320 in Japan," Suzuki said.

Airbus COO Customers John Leahy said that Jetstar Japan has joined a growing list of operators of its A320 equipped with new fuel-saving sharklet wing-tip devices.

"With a 4% fuel burn reduction, the A320 with Sharklets makes Jetstar Japan one of the most fuel efficient airlines and gives it huge competitive advantages in one of the world’s most challenging markets," Leahy added.

A joint venture between the Qantas Group, Japan Airlines (JAL), Mitsubishi and Century Tokyo Leasing, Jetstar Japan began operations in July 2012.

It operates an all-Airbus fleet of seven leased A320s, and is expected to increase to 24 aircraft by 2014.

To date, more than 9,000 A320 family aircraft have been sold worldwide and in excess of 5,400 aircraft have been delivered to some 380 customers.

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Image: Jetstar Japan has become the first Japanese carrier to take delivery of sharklet-equipped A320 airplane. Photo: H Goussé / Airbus SAS.