Permagard is at the show promoting its bio-coating technology after winning a contract to protect all of Etihad's aircraft. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier has saved millions of litres of water and avoided 325 exterior washes during 2010 thanks to the coatings, said Permagard.
Qantas Airways has meanwhile become Permagard's latest customer.
"Having Qantas sign a contract with Permagard and integrating our programme is a major endorsement to our green aviation technology," said Luc d'Argence, the company's CEO and founder. "As of this day, we can say that all commercial airlines in Australia will be coated with our environmentally friendly coating.
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"The core benefit of this programme is the ability to preserve the aircraft's exterior for an extended period, reducing significantly the frequency of washing, deferring the need to repaint planes and cutting down the time they spend on the ground, earning them more revenue in the air while saving airlines millions of dollars in fuel," d'Argence added.
Airbus estimates that at today's fuel prices, over $300,000 per aircraft per year can be saved by ensuring smooth skin on an airframe. This represents more than $18 million in fuel savings per year for a fleet similar to that of Etihad and $90 million per year for Australia's commercial airlines.
- All the latest news, video and images from the 2011 Dubai air show
Source: Flight Daily News
