Slovakian low-cost carrier SkyEurope will equip its newly ordered fleet of Boeing 737-700s with Aviation Partners Boeing's performance enhanced winglets.
The airline signalled its expansion intentions with the recent order for 16 aircraft and 16 options in a move it says will make it the same size as neighbouring Austrian Airlines is today by 2009.
Of the 16 firm orders, 12 will be leased from GE Commercial Avation Services (GECAS), with six coming from the lessor's current order book.
The remainder will come from a new GECAS order.
Options
The 16 firm orders will be delivered over 2006-7 and the options from 2008-9.
The winglets will be purchased by GECAS and installed by Boeing as Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE).
SkyEurope chief executive Christian Mandl says: "SkyEurope decided to equip its Next Generation Boeing 737-700 aircraft with blended winglets to benefit from lower fuel burn, better aircraft performance and lower engine thrust requirements.
The winglet technology is an investment which will definitely pay off."
The carrier is interested in expanding into other Eastern European markets that, unlike Slovakia, are not yet in the European Union (EU), and is currently looking at Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria, and in the longer term, Russia and Ukraine.
The carrier started operations in 2001 before the European nations in which it operates joined the EU, and its Single European Sky.
HUGH MCATEAR
Source: Flight Daily News
