Alaska Airlines is deploying the new split winglet on its Boeing 737NGs. It is expect these will reduce fuel consumption by 58,000 gallons a year per aircraft. The split winglet will save the airline $20 million and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 57,000 tons annually.
Designed by Seattle-based Aviation Partners Boeing, the first winglet will be installed early 2014 and the project will be completed by 2017. Alaska plans to install the winglets on 111 aircraft, including most of its 737-800s, -900s and all of its -900ERs. Installation will be scheduled on each aircraft during routine maintenance inspections.
The International Council on Clean Transportation , a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C., ranked Alaska No. 1 in fuel efficiency among all 15 major U.S. airlines in a report it released in September.
