Ethiopian MRO successfully fits fuel saving blended winglets to its Boeing 767-300ER

ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopian Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Unit has achieved another milestone with the successful fitting of blended winglets to its Boeing 767-300ER. The modification was completed and test flight was successfully performed and the aircraft will go into operations with the new fitting. This will make the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Unit of Ethiopian Airlines the first in Africa to fit these winglets to its aircraft. 

The B767-300ER blended winglets are expected to reduce fuel burn by up to 5% and carbon dioxide emissions by up to 5,000 tons per year. The blended winglets will improve the 767-300ER performance from Addis by increasing the takeoff weight to 2.0 - 2.5 tons and the payload range by 204 nautical miles.

Ato Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO Ethiopian Airlines said, “I would like to congratulate our MRO team for the outstanding performance and for the job well done. From an economics point of view, the winglets will allow the airline to make substantial cost saving, through lower fuel consumption, which is highly critical at a time when the industry as a whole is feeling the brunt of persistent high fuel prices. This fitting will also reduce engine maintenance cost. The winglets will enhance our take-off performance specifically from our high altitude hub and increase our payload including the flight range.”

Ato Tewolde further added, “Ethiopian Airlines has made the choice of purchasing winglets for our B767 because of the enormous performance and operating value they bring. The winglets will contribute greatly to our constant and comprehensive effort to continuously reduce our carbon footprint, through lower airport noise and emissions.”

Ato Zemene Nega, Senior Vice President of MRO at Ethiopia Airlines also noted, “I sincerely believe that the fitting of these blended winglets will contribute to our productivity. Applying this technology of blended winglets will add on improved operating economies as fuel is the largest part of our airline's operating expenses.”

In November 2011, Ethiopian MRO has received the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Part 145 Approval, which makes the MRO capable of issuing all internationally recognized maintenance certificates for airplanes and components.