Austrian Boeing 767-300ER first European airline to be fitted with blended winglets

Austrian Airlines' Boeing 767-300ER registration OE-LAE became the first European airline aircraft to successfully convert and add winglets. This following American Airlines successful conversion and implementation of the blended winglets made by Aviation Partners Boeing.

Austrian Airlines is in a pioneering position since its committed to the conversion at an early stage, and will now enjoy "clear competitive advantage over other carriers". These include :

• Saving of about 1,000 tons of fuel per year per aircraft
• Increase of range by about 670km per flight
• Increase in payload by about 5 tons

Efforts are on to convert the balance three 767s as early as May 2009.

Image courtesy Aviation Partners