AirTran Airways to Install Blended Winglets for 737 fleet

717Doc · #1 08-27-2005, 09:18 PM

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 25 /

PRNewswire-FirstCall/

-- AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc.

AAI, today announced plans to enhance their modern and fuel efficient fleet of Boeing 737-700 aircraft by adding a wing feature known as Blended Winglets.

The winglets, manufactured by Aviation Partners Boeing as a joint venture between Aviation Partners Inc. and The Boeing Company, are eight-foot vertical extensions of the aircraft's wingtips. The new winglet technology improves the efficiency of the wing in both takeoff and cruise contributing to an annual fuel savings of approximately 90,000 gallons of fuel per aircraft per year.

AirTran Airways has ordered winglets for 15 of its Boeing 737s leased from General Electric Commercial Aviation Service (GECAS), and has options to add winglets to future deliveries of new Boeing 737s. Installation of the winglets will begin in September and continue into early 2006.

"Blended Winglet technology has been proven to reduce fuel consumption and increase aircraft performance. In an era of high fuel costs we are investing in new technology to improve the efficiency of our operation," said Stan Gadek, AirTran Airways' senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer. "In this way we can keep our costs down and continue to offer low fares and great value to our customers."

"We are very happy to have AirTran Airways, one of the most successful airlines in the U.S., adopt Blended Winglet technology," says Aviation Partners Boeing CEO Mike Marino. "As a premier low cost carrier, their decision to install winglets says a lot about the value our product provides."

AirTran Airways, one of America's largest low-fare airlines with 6,700 friendly, professional Crew Members, operates over 500 daily flights to 49 destinations. The airline's hub is at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where it is the second largest carrier. AirTran Airways recently added the fuel-efficient Boeing 737-700 aircraft to create America's youngest all-Boeing fleet. The airline is also the first carrier to install XM Satellite Radio on a commercial aircraft.

AirlineFanatic · #2 08-29-2005, 03:34 AM

Get the xm radio installed in the AC first

I really wanted to get on a 717 with XM but didn't happen. I'm sure they will all be finished by the time i fly again

Delta7203 · #3 09-04-2005, 08:47 AM

Speaking of the 737...when are you guys planning on making the switch from a 717-737 fleet to an all 737 fleet?

- John

717Doc · #4 09-05-2005, 06:00 PM

It will be awhile, we have a 15yr lease on the 717's.

Delta7203 · #5 09-06-2005, 05:37 AM

I heard you guys were going to try and find a buyer before the leases are up.

717Doc · #6 09-06-2005, 03:47 PM

Have not heard that one, I have asked the same question and the answer I got was "maybe after the lease is up" But that is the standard corporate answer. Let me know what you are hearing.

Delta7203 · #7 09-06-2005, 08:52 PM

I'm hearing that those BMW engines are giving you guys a bunch of unneeded and unwanted crap so you guys are looking for airlines such as my Delta (even though we have NO money what-so-ever!) and American to take them off of your hands...I don't think I would ever like the 717 in Delta's fleet...it wouldn't be right...I'd think of AirTran everytime I saw one.

- John

AnonymousCoward · #8 09-07-2005, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta7203

I'm hearing that those BMW engines are giving you guys a bunch of unneeded and unwanted crap so you guys are looking for airlines such as my Delta (even though we have NO money what-so-ever!) and American to take them off of your hands...I don't think I would ever like the 717 in Delta's fleet...it wouldn't be right...I'd think of AirTran everytime I saw one.

- John

They're actually Rolls engines, and they have been known to cause a headache or two. I have also heard the rumors of offloading the aircraft early, who knows.

The rumor mill works about 115% around here, but that's par for the course anywhere I suppose.