AirAsia will be first with sharlets

Low-cost carrier AirAsia of Malaysia will be the first operator of the A320 to use the model with "sharklets" on the wingtips. The announcement was made at the Berlin air show. AirAsia will take delivery of the first A320 equipped with the fuel-saving wing-tip devices at the end of this year. Sharklets will be fitted on previously ordered, newly-built A320s for AirAsia, scheduled for delivery from the end of 2012. The tips will result in close to 4 percent fuel savings for the most popular Airbus aircraft. (Source: EADS, Reuters, 09/11/12) Gulf Coast note: Mobile, Ala., will be the future home of an A320 assembly line. Previous