Excel Airways is part of a growing trend of airlines that are purchasing Blended Winglet Shipsets for leased aircraft. Excel will purchase and install winglets on 4 737-800 airplanes that are leased from International Lease Finance Company (ILFC) and will operate 6 others that will be purchased by GE Capital (GECAS) and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).
"Operators purchasing Blended Winglets for leased aircraft is becoming an increasingly common occurrence," says Aviation Partners Boeing Sales Director Troy Brekken. "Aircraft operators are realizing that the payback period for Blended Winglets is so short that even when the aircraft is being leased, it makes more sense to purchase the winglets than to lease them."
Excel Airways, with bases at London Gatwick, Glasgow and Manchester, operates its 737-800s at average utilization rates of 3600 flight hours per year with average stage lengths of 1300 sm. Excel's longer flights, including Gatwick to Luxor, Egypt (2465 sm) and Tenerife (1775 sm), Spain will enjoy particularly strong fuel savings thanks to Blended Winglet Technology. With an estimated block fuel reduction of up to 4%, Excel will save in excess of 115,000 gallons of jet fuel per aircraft per year.
In addition to dramatic fuel savings made possible with patented* Blended Winglet Technology, engine maintenance costs will be decreased as winglets allow airplanes to use less engine thrust due to the improved aerodynamic performance of the wing. Also, Blended Winglets can enhance payload capabilities from performance limited airports. On the environmental front, a Blended Winglet Equipped 737-800 reduces the noise footprint on the order of 6.5% on landing while reducing carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide emissions between 4% and 6%.
"The fuel savings alone justify investing in Blended Winglet Technology, however there are many other benefits that make this technology so compelling," says Aviation Partners Boeing Vice President of Sales, Patrick LaMoria. "Enhanced performance, reduced environmental impacts, and a high-tech image are all important considerations for our customers. Blended Winglet technology is unique in that it visibly changes the look and performance of an aircraft over its entire economic life. Unlike other post delivery aircraft modifications, the fuel savings associated with installing Blended Winglets will not go out of style."
With the majority of the global 737-700/800 fleet now updated with Blended Winglets, and over 85% of new 737-700s/800s being delivered with Blended Winglets installed on the production line, Blended Winglet technology has become the accepted standard for the 737 Next Generation. Blended Winglets are also certified on the Boeing 737-300 and 757-200. Aviation Partners Boeing is currently seeking launch customers to certify Blended Winglets for the 767-300ER. Nearly 1,000 Blended Winglet Systems are already installed and in service on Boeing aircraft with orders and options for more than 2,000 additional shipsets.
*Patent No. 5348253