First Ryanair 737-800 retrofitted with Split Scimitar Winglets

Ryanair has installed Split Scimitar Winglets on the first of over 400 Boeing 737-800s in its fleet, with EI-DLY (msn 33601) being the first of many. The Split Scimitar Winglets look similar to the AT-winglet design of the 737 MAX.

The Scimitar Winglet was introduced by Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) in January 2013, as a retrofit for Boeing 737NG aircraft By replacing an aluminium winglet tip cap or an existing blended winglet with a scimitar-shaped tip, plus a downward-pointing scimitar-tipped ventral stake near the base of the blended winglet, savings of up to 170,343 litres of jet fuel per aircraft per year are possible according to APB.

With its large fleet of over 400 Boeing 737-800s, the installation of Spit Scimitar Winglets will reduce Ryanair's annual fuel consumption by 65 million litres and carbon emissions by 165,000 tonnes, the Irish low-cost carrier says.

Ryanair adds that the deal with equipment supplier Aviation Partners Boeing is worth $175 million.

The Ryanair group of airlines (Ryanair, Buzz, Malta Air and Lauda Europe) has a fleet consisting of 409 737-800s, 88 737 MAX 8200s and one 737-700. The group also has 122 737 MAX 8200s on order.

Photo: Ryanair