easyJet to equip final A320ceo aircraft with fuel-saving sharklets as part of continued fleet efficiency upgrades

easyJet announced the retrofit of all is remaining Airbus A320ceo aircraft* with Airbus-manufactured ‘sharklets’, a key initiative that will deliver further fuel, carbon and cost efficiencies across its fleet.The upgrade programme, in partnership with Airbus, is already underway** and is due for competition by summer 2026. Sharklets are blended winglet devices that reduce fuel consumption by increasing the effective wingspan and minimising lift-induced drag by up to 4%. Once completed, the upgrade to these remaining aircraft will offer an additional combined fuel saving of 2,156 tonnes across easyJet’s fleet, an equivalent reduction of almost 7,000 tonnes of Co2 per annum.

The more fuel-efficient devices will replace the aircraft’s original wing tip fences and will increase mission range by up to 100 nautical miles. Following the installation of sharklets, the aircraft can also accommodate an additional six seats, further enhancing aircraft efficiency. The upgraded aircraft are currently operating from key bases across easyJet’s network, including at London Gatwick, Lisbon, Berlin and Milan Malpensa bases.

David Morgan, Chief Operating Officer at easyJet, commented: “Retrofitting our A320ceo aircraft with sharklets is another small but important step in our mission to operate as efficiently as possible. These upgrades deliver immediate reductions in fuel burn and carbon emissions and form part of many innovative solutions we’re employing to improve our efficiency and lower our impact.”

Since launching its roadmap in 2022 and announcing its ambition to reduce and decarbonise its environmental impact, easyJet has continued to invest in operational efficiencies and technologies that lower its impact both in the air and on the ground.

While there is much still to do, easyJet remains on track to meet its ambitious target of a 35% reduction in carbon emissions intensity by 2035 and, showing progress is gradually being made, was recently recognised as the top-rated airline globally by Sustainalytics for managing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks, receiving an industry-leading score of 18.0.

Why sharklets work better:

• They weaken wingtip vortices by redirecting airflow upward and outward, reducing the energy lost in the swirl

• They effectively increase the wing’s aspect ratio (the wing behaves as if it’s longer) without actually extending the wingspan, which would cause gate and structural issues

• Their curved, blended shape is more aerodynamically efficient than the older, flat wingtip fences or simple winglets, creating smoother airflow with less induced drag