Delta to install Winglets on 3 Aircraft types

http://news.delta.com/article_displa...ticle_id=10746

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Winglets expected to reduce fuel emissions and save millions in fuel cost

PARIS, June 19, 2007 – Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) will continue to build on its international expansion by installing Blended Winglets on more than 60 Boeing 737-NG, 757-200 and 767-300ER aircraft types. The improvement will provide greater flexibility to serve more markets with existing aircraft, further enhancing the largest international expansion in Delta’s history. Blended winglets are wing tip devices that reduce drag thanks to improved aerodynamics, resulting in a reduction in fuel usage.

“Blended Winglets create an opportunity for us to improve both our operating and fuel efficiency simultaneously,” said Jim Whitehurst, Delta’s Chief Operating Officer. “We expect to see a minimum of 3.5 percent improvements in our fuel consumption and a minimum of 5 percent in our range thanks to this added technology. Our customers will benefit from Delta’s ability to offer more destinations, and Delta benefits from new efficiencies that will improve our operations and better the environment.”

Delta will have the winglets installed on 38 737-NGs, 10 757-200 and 15 767-300ER aircraft by Aviation Partners Boeing, with options to install on all aircraft in the three fleets. As a result, the 737-NG type aircraft, which is currently receiving 10 additional seats and a state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system, will easily operate coast-to-coast. The 10 757-200 aircraft are being retrofitted with Delta’s award-winning Business Elite product as well as other international requirements and will be ideal aircraft for service between the Northeast region of the U.S. and Western Europe. The 767-300ER aircraft will realize both extended range and expanded payload capability which will open up new market possibilities for Delta’s customers and increase cargo sales opportunities.

“There is no doubt we will realize substantial savings thanks to reduced fuel burn as a result of the winglet installation,” continued Whitehurst. “But in addition to that, we’ll also be able to examine new market possibilities for our customers and add to our long list of environmental initiatives, which includes a 30-year history of focusing on fuel savings.”

“Blended Winglets are the perfect product at the perfect time for the fast-growing expansion of Delta’s international routes,” Aviation Partners Boeing CEO John Reimers said. “The significance of Delta committing to winglets for three aircraft types cannot be overstated.”

The winglet technology will provide Delta’s 757-200 aircraft with 200 nautical miles of additional range, or they can carry up to 49 additional passengers on 4,000 mile routes. The 767-300ER aircraft will gain more than 350 nautical miles in range, or 5.5 tons of payload. For an airline expanding its international presence, this type of improvement creates opportunities that otherwise would have had to wait for the development of new aircraft types.

Delta Air Lines offers customers service to more destinations than any global airline with Delta and Delta Connection carrier service to 332 destinations in 57 countries. With more than 60 new international routes introduced in the last year, Delta has added more international capacity than all other U.S. airlines combined and is the leader across the Atlantic with flights to 36 trans-Atlantic destinations. To Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta offers nearly 700 weekly flights to 63 destinations. Delta's marketing alliances also allow customers to earn and redeem SkyMiles on nearly 15,000 flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta is a founding member of SkyTeam, a global airline alliance that provides customers with extensive worldwide destinations, flights and services. Including its SkyTeam and worldwide codeshare partners, Delta offers flights to 479 worldwide destinations in 105 countries. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes and check flight status at delta.com.

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Wow. I'm realy blown away about the 763s! I didn't know that was possible. They will be the first right?

5.5 tons of payload on a 763 from adding winglets? I wish I had an extra 5,000kgs to play with on my planes. :-/

American is also doing this on their 767s.

This reminds me, Delta was actually the first major airline to experiment with winglets on a 727 - though they didn't opt to convert the fleet at that time.

Yeah, the 767 with blended winglets..something to consider. I suppose it'll be more like the 767-400 than a "long horn".

Tom

American, LAN, and Austrian are the other current three 767 carriers that will install winglets. I believe the first set is due on an American 767-300 in early 2008.

I don't know how I feel about the look of the winglet on a 763. They look great on a 737NG or a 752. I'd have to see it to make a decision, I guess.

As said by all, I will have to see it to pass judgment. Could look good or bad. This could make an already ugly paint job even worse looking on the planes.

I saw a picture the other day in an old "Airliners" magazine that was of a 747-200 with the Aviation Partner Blended Winglets and they were huge!

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Originally Posted by Iberia A340-600

I saw a picture the other day in an old "Airliners" magazine that was of a 747-200 with the Aviation Partner Blended Winglets and they were huge!

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Gordon - can you show us a pic or at least tell us what airline it is lol, blended winglets on a 742, that is interesting.

To stay on topic, I think I will have to see the planes winglets in person, in order to judge it, maybe it will be slightly larger then the average "Winglet"? who knows?

N703TW is at the hangar in Atlanta and it has the winglets installed. It looks awesome.

Got a picture?

Sorry to keep you guys waiting with this:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k170/swfshots/74w.jpg

How much of a life do current 742s have left? Would it be worth it for companies to get these? What's the install time?

Are there any illustrations of what 767s will look like with winglets?

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Originally Posted by Phil D.

How much of a life do current 742s have left? Would it be worth it for companies to get these? What's the install time?

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Phil, c'mon...how many B747-100's are STILL flying with cargo carriers? B742's have another good 10-15 years on them, although they may be high-time, their cycle count is low due to the stage lengths.

Now, as for the topic at hand...I seem to recall we have some Atlanta DL folks on the board now....where is the pic of N703TW???? Hmmmmm???? :wink:

Man those look like HUGE winglets on that 747. The ones on the 737s are 6 feet high, those must be 12 feet atleast.

737's are about 8-9 feet high.

The 747-200 was once operated by FedEx,Polar & Flying Tigers, N639FE It's now operated by MK Airlines The winglets were approx 14ft tall

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Originally Posted by N790SW

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Originally Posted by Iberia A340-600

I saw a picture the other day in an old "Airliners" magazine that was of a 747-200 with the Aviation Partner Blended Winglets and they were huge!

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Gordon - can you show us a pic or at least tell us what airline it is lol, blended winglets on a 742, that is interesting.

To stay on topic, I think I will have to see the planes winglets in person, in order to judge it, maybe it will be slightly larger then the average "Winglet"? who knows?

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Let me be the first to point out the obvious here and say READ THE PORTION OF THE ARTICLE!!! It has the dimensions in it. :mrgreen: