airberlin to equip new Airbus A320/A321 fleet with fuel-saving Sharklet technology

The airberlin group is having new fuel-saving wing tip devices fitted on all 14 of the Airbus A320/A321 aircraft which are still on order with the manufacturer. These devices, known as Sharklets, are two and a half metre wing tip extensions which point upwards. They reduce the creation of vortices and therefore improve aerodynamics. The Sharklets make the Airbus A320/321 even more efficient, reducing fuel burn by up to 3.5%. This corresponds to an additional annual CO2 reduction of about 1000 tonnes per aircraft, which is the equivalent of 55 flights from Berlin to Palma de Mallorca. As a result of improved upward lift, an Airbus equipped with Sharklets can also climb more rapidly, which, in turn, reduces noise on the ground. Sharklets therefore increase the productivity and the eco-efficiency of the Airbus A320/A321 aircraft. In spring 2013 the airberlin group will be one of the first airlines in the world to receive its first delivery with Sharklet technology. The first aircraft equipped with Sharklets will be an Airbus A320 supplied to the airline NIKI, which is part of the airberlin group.