Yakutia Airline: First to operate Split Scimitar Winglets in Russian Federation

Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) announced today that Russia’s Yakutia Airlines is the first airline in the Russian Federation to install and operate with Split Scimitar Winglets on its Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft leased from Fly Leasing Limited. Aviation Partners’ latest Winglet design, the Split Scimitar Winglet, uses existing Blended Winglet technology but adds new aerodynamic Scimitar tips and a large ventral strake, further increasing the efficiency of the airplane.

“Yakutia is taking steps to be the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly airline in Russia,” says Aviation Partners Boeing director of sales and marketing Christopher Stafford. “With the installation of the Split Scimitar Winglet System, Yakutia will further enhance the performance of its Boeing 737-800s, yielding significant fuel savings and reduction in CO2 emissions throughout its network.”

The Split Scimitar Winglet modification reduces Boeing Next-Generation 737 fuel burn by an additional 2.5% over the Blended Winglets alone; together they reduce fuel burn by up to 6.6%. The Split Scimitar Winglet System will reduce Yakutia’s annual fuel requirements by more than 150,000 liters per aircraft, and their carbon dioxide emissions by about 380 tonnes per aircraft per year. Additionally, the Split Scimitar Winglet System can increase payload capability by 1.2 tonnes on Yakutia’s longest routes.

“This is our first Split Scimitar Winglet equipped airplane in our 737NG fleet. When considering the market where we operate this airplane, with an average flight length of 4.5 hours, we anticipate significant fuel savings on an annual basis,” states Yakutia Airlines chief executive officer Olga Federova. “Yakutia plans to evaluate equipping its existing and any additional 737NG airplanes with the Split Scimitar System as they are added to our fleet. We believe that the performance will significantly enhance the airplane operating economics in this harsh economic environment in Russia.”

APB’s Split Scimitar Winglet program is the most successful product launch in its history. Since launching the program APB has taken orders and options for over 2,000 Split Scimitar Winglet systems. Over the last 10 years, APB has sold nearly 8,000 of its Blended Winglet and Split Scimitar Winglet Systems. Over 6,500 Systems are now in service on Boeing aircraft with over 200 airlines in more than 100 countries. APB estimates that its advanced technology winglets have saved airlines worldwide 6.3billion gallons of jet fuel to-date with a corresponding reduction of carbon dioxide emissions of 66 million tons.