Sun Country Airlines announced today that it will retrofit its fleet of 737-800’s with blended winglets from Aviation Partners Boeing.  The winglets will improve fuel economy, increase performance and reduce environmental effect associated with aircraft operation.

“The investment in the installation of the winglets on our fleet is an important part of Sun Country’s continued growth strategy centered on our low-cost service model,” said Shaun Nugent, CEO of Sun Country.  “Not only will the winglets have a positive economic impact by reducing overall fuel consumption, they will have a positive environmental impact through noise and emission reduction as well.”

Blended winglets fit at rounded angles at the end of each aircraft wing, unlike traditional winglets that fit at hard angles.  This ‘blended’ design reduces aerodynamic drag and boosts performance.  Most notably, the winglets will reduce Sun Country fuel needs by 840,000 gallons per year.

Retrofit installations will be facilitated over the next five months by Aviation Partners Boeing.  “We welcome Sun Country Airlines to the rapidly growing family of blended winglet performance enhanced operators who are saving fuel, increasing performance and reducing environmental impact on six continents,” said Aviation Partners Boeing CEO and President John Reimers.

Sun Country Airlines is a low cost, low fare carrier based in St. Paul, MN. Sun Country, a privately held company, is following a conservative growth plan which will increase the frequency to its popular destinations such as Phoenix, Dallas, Los Angeles, Orlando, Washington, DC, Seattle and Las Vegas. For a complete list of destinations and more information, please visit Sun Country's website at suncountry.com.

Aviation Partners Boeing is a joint venture between Seattle-based Aviation Partners Inc. and The Boeing Company.  The company has sold over 2000 blended winglet shipsets, upgrading more than half of the world fleet of Boeing 737-700’s/800’s.