Aeroflot – Russian Airlines retrofitted the first Airbus А320 aircraft with new wing-tip devices – Sharklets, press-service of Airbus reports.

«By late May 2015 the airline is going to retrofit 8 more A320 jets with Sharklets. At present Aeroflot operates 12 Airbus А320 jets fitted with Sharklets by Airbus enterprises,» the company noted.

According to Airbus, Sharklets improve the jet’s aerodynamics. They offer operators up to four percent fuel burn reduction on longer range sectors and provide the flexibility of either adding an additional 180 km range or increased payload capability of up to 450 kg. The new wing-tip devices are 2.4 meters tall and made of light-weight composite materials.

Airbus has been delivering Sharklets as an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft since December 2012. These liners have reinforced wings and can be fitted with Sharklets without any additional modifications.

We remind you that Aeroflot put the first Airbus aircraft (A310) into operation in 1992; the carrier was a launch customer of Airbus aircraft in Russia. The carrier also became the first А320 and А330 operator in Russia (Aeroflot started operation of these liners in 2003 and 2008 respectively). Today Aeroflot operates 96 А320 Family aircraft and 22 А330 Family jets.