With orders for 737-700 and 737-800 Blended Winglets from two Shanghai, China-based airlines, Aviation Partners Boeing continues to gain market presence in China. The agreement assures that Shanghai Airlines' and China Eastern Airlines' aircraft purchased as part of China's airlines' 2006 order of 150 Boeing 737-NG aircraft will be equipped with Blended Winglet Technology when they enter service. With these orders, at least 190 737-NG aircraft in China will be equipped with winglets.

"China's airlines promise to be the greatest growth opportunity in the aviation industry," says Aviation Partners Boeing CEO John Reimers. "As our technology continues to prove itself in service with more Chinese operators, we are realistically targeting to install winglets on every eligible aircraft in China."

Benefits of Aviation Partners Boeing's Visible Technology are nothing short of spectacular in fuel savings, improved performance and environmental advantages. Given average aircraft utilization rates, winglet operators save over 100,000 gallons (380,000 liters) of fuel per aircraft per year resulting in a payback on investment of less than 3 years. Noise footprint, on takeoff and landing, is reduced by an average of 6.5% while engine emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides are lowered on the order of 5.0%.

"Blended Winglets give China Eastern wide-ranging benefits due to their large, varied route structure -- fuel savings, engine maintenance cost savings, improved takeoff weight capability and greater payload capability. Operations from mountainous terrain improve dramatically with up to three tonnes of additional takeoff weight capability," says Aviation Partners Boeing Sales Director Craig McCallum. "Shanghai Airlines' fast-growing network benefits from the operational flexibility provided by Blended Winglets, along with dramatic fuel savings."

All three major Chinese airlines and most of the major independent Chinese airlines are currently operating aircraft with winglets installed in production at Boeing. Discussions continue with all of the airlines to launch the first retrofit installation in China for both the 737-NG and the 757-200.

Source:未知