Air Transat Orders Aviation Partners Boeing Split Scimitar™ Winglets for Boeing Next-Generation 737-800s

SEATTLE, Jan. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) today announced that Air Transat has ordered Split Scimitar Winglets for its fleet of Boeing Next Generation 737-800 aircraft.  APB's newest program is the culmination of a five year design effort using the latest computational fluid dynamic technology to redefine the aerodynamics of the Blended Winglet into an all-new Split Scimitar Winglet. The unique feature of the Split Scimitar Winglet is that it uses the existing Blended Winglet structure, but adds new strengthened spars, aerodynamic scimitar tips, and a large ventral strake.  APB looks forward to receiving FAA certification for Split Scimitar Winglets within the next several days.

"Air Transat has become the latest customer to equip its fleet of Boeing Next Generation 737-800 airplanes with the Split Scimitar Winglet technology," says Aviation Partners Boeing director of sales and marketing Christopher Stafford.  "The Split Scimitar Winglets will further enhance the performance of its Boeing 737-800's yielding nearly 60,000 gallons of fuel savings and reducing emissions by nearly 565 tonnes per airplane per year."

APB will develop and certify the Split Scimitar Winglet System for several variants of the Boeing Next Generation 737 series of aircraft including the structurally provisioned and non-provisioned 737-700, 737-800, 737-BBJ, the structurally provisioned 737-900 and the 737-900ER.

"Fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction has been a key priority at Air Transat for many years," said Jean-Francois-Lemay, Air Transat's general manager. "Thanks to the efforts of our employees, we have been recognized as one of the most fuel efficient long-haul airlines and climate efficient North American carriers. Investing in APB's split scimitar winglet technology for our B737 fleet will allow us to further improve our fuel efficiency and to advance our efforts to be an industry leader in environmental performance."

APB's Split Scimitar Winglet program is the most successful product launch in its history.  Since launching the program early last year, APB has now taken orders and options for 1,461 Split Scimitar Winglet systems. Over the last 10 years, APB has sold more than 7,000 Blended Winglet Systems.  Over 5,100 Blended Winglet Systems are now in service with over 200 airlines in more than 100 countries. APB estimates that Blended Winglets have saved airlines worldwide over 4 billion gallons of jet fuel to-date. 

Aviation Partners Boeing is a Seattle based joint venture of Aviation Partners, Inc. and The Boeing Company.

www.aviationpartnersboeing.com

About Air Transat

Air Transat is Canada's leading holiday travel airline. Every year, it carries some 3 million passengers to nearly 60 destinations in 25 countries aboard its fleet of Airbus wide-body jets. The company employs approximately 2,000 people. Air Transat is a business unit of Transat A.T. Inc., an integrated international tour operator with more than 60 destination countries and that distributes products in over 30 countries.

SOURCE Aviation Partners Boeing