Ryanair, an Irish airline, is spending around $200 million to make their Boeing 737-800 fleet more fuel efficient. They intend to accomplish this by retrofitting their 737-800 with split-scimitar winglets, similar to those found on the newer 737-800NG. This will help the airline save 1.5% on fuel. Ryanair is retrofitting 409 737-800 aircraft with split-scimitar wingtip devices, also known as winglets.
The Split Scimitar Winglet improves on the existing Blended Winglet on the Boeing 737NG family. For long-range missions, the retrofit’s combined aerodynamic elements — ventral strakes, scimitar tips, and trailing edge wedges — provide a drag reduction and corresponding range increase of 2% or more. These winglets are now standard on all new Boeing Business Jets and are already in use on over 700 Boeing 737NG planes.
This is totally different from those found on the 737 MAX which actually splits into two.
The 737-800’s split-scimitar wingtips will reduce drag and thus fuel burn. Lowering fuel consumption reduces carbon emissions, which is good for the environment.
Long term investment
Ryanair sees 737-800 retrofitting as a long-term investment. While the initial costs may be high, the long-term benefits will outweigh them.
If the 1.5% fuel burn savings were applied to the airline’s H1 fuel expenditure in a basic calculation (not accounting for other variables), the low-cost carrier would save more than ($30 million over six months, or $60 million per year), theoretically paying for itself in less than four years.
Airlines and airports are working to reduce their emissions as the industry strives for net-zero emissions by 2050.
The Ryanair group’s 737-800s are divided into four subsidiaries: 235 for Ryanair, 120 for Malta Air, 46 for Buzz, and 8 for Ryanair UK. All 737-800s have a standard 189 all-economy seat configuration.
The airline also operates approximately 80 Boeing 737 MAX 8 200 aircraft. The split-scimitar will not be retrofitted to Boeing 737 MAXs. They all come with a split ‘AT’ winglet.
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