Canada-based WestJet has ordered Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) winglets for its 737-700 fleet, and is eventually expected to equip all 94 aircraft on order and option. The WestJet deal takes the number of firm orders for Next Generation 737 blended winglet shipsets to 170, 12 of which are for BBJs. A further 279 Next Generation 737s, including 77 BBJs, are already fitted.
APB, which has one order for the newly certified 737-300SP winglets from Spanish carrier Air Plus Comet (Flight International, 10-16 June), is still searching for a high-gross-weight 737-400 flight-test aircraft, but says that programme is launched. It estimates "extensive market penetration" of the existing fleets of 1,069 737-300s and 481 -400s once the claimed in-service benefits of the initial operators become more widely known.
The -300SP (special performance) demonstrated block fuel savings of up to 4.5% against the standard -300, says the Seattle-based modification specialist. This equals around 247,000 litres (65,170USgal) of fuel a year based on annual utilisation of 2,900h and 1.5h average stage lengths.
Source: Flight International
