Low cost airline Ryanair has decided to install new generation winglets on its fleet, which will improve fuel efficiency thus cutting the carrier’s annual carbon emissions by 165,000 tonnes.
Following a $175 million agreement with Aviation Partners Boeing (APB), Ryanair installed Split Scimitar Winglets to a Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft on 23 January. This is the first of over 400 Next Generation planes in the airline’s fleet that will receive the winglets upgrade.
We are impressed with APB’s innovative winglet designs and look forward to having them installed on not just this first aircraft but on over 400 of our aircraft to further reduce our emissions.
Thomas Fowler, Ryanair Director of Sustainability
“Having the operator of the world’s largest fleet of 737-800 Next Generation aircraft install Split Scimitar Winglets is the ultimate endorsement of APB and its products. We are both humbled and honoured to continue to support Ryanair in their ambitious sustainability initiatives”, APB’s Chief Commercial Officer, Patrick LaMoria, commented on the agreement.
The modification will improve aircraft fuel efficiency by up to 1.5%, reducing Ryanair’s annual fuel consumption by 65 million litres, corresponding to 165,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. “As Ryanair grows to carry 225 million passengers by 2026, this initiative will further the airline’s target of net-zero by 2050”, the Irish based carrier said in a statement.
“As Europe’s most environmentally efficient major airline, we are leading the way in sustainable aviation as demonstrated by this investment in our fleet”, said Ryanair’s Director of Sustainability, Thomas Fowler. “This winglet technology will help us reach our ambitious environmental targets on our pathway to net zero emissions by 2050. We are impressed with APB’s innovative winglet designs and look forward to having them installed on not just this first aircraft but on over 400 of our aircraft to further reduce our emissions.”
As the aviation industry is committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary announced last year the era cheap plane tickets is over, partly due to the higher environmental taxes airlines have to pay. At the beginning of this year, the carrier permanently closed its base at Brussels Airport specifically because of the higher taxes the airport will charge as of April.
