Malaysia's AirAsia technically was the first to fly an Airbus A320 with sharklets, though Air New Zealand earned the launch customer designation since it was the first to order one.

Airbus has delivered the first A320 equipped with Sharklets today to AirAsia, which becomes the first operator of the new fuel-saving large wing tip devices. Sharklets are an option on new-build ...

Airbus A320 with sharklets. Courtesy, Airbus Airbus has completed installation of the first set of sharklet wing-tip devices on the company’s A320 development aircraft (MSN 001), preparing for ...

The changes in the interior design are to begin in 2016 on the company’s A320, the midsize plane used for short- to medium-range flights by many U.S.-based carriers.

An Airbus A320 equipped with sharklets has completed its first flight, the jet maker said Wednesday. Airbus predicts the wing-tip device will cut fuel burn by 3.5 percent on its single-aisle aircraft.

Sharklets, which replace the A320's wing fences, will reduce fuel-burn on the type by up to 3.5% on longer sectors of around 3,000nm (5,560km), Airbus claims.

Airbus is expecting the first new-build aircraft for its A320 sharklets wing-tip programme to join the test regime in May, after promising results from initial flights with an early airframe.

Air New Zealand will take delivery of a total of 10 Sharklet equipped A320s. Sharklets are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft, and standard on all members of the A320neo Family.

He further explained that the Sharklets’ differ from conventional winglets in their contour and shape, resulting in an 1,100-pound increase in payload or 110 nm in extra range, to 3,350 nm in an ...