As part of its current fleet renewal program, HYPERLINK “http://www.utair.ru/en/” UTair Aviation has taken delivery of the eighth Airbus A321 aircraft, the latest in a contract for 20 aircraft of this type signed in 2012. With the new Airbus aircraft entering the fleet and the decision to retire older aircraft, the average age for aircraft in the UTair fleet will drop to 8 years by the end of 2014. The new A321 airliner is the fourth of this group of aircraft equipped with fuel-efficient Sharklet wing tips. UTair expects to receive four more such aircraft by the end of the year. The new 2.4 meter-high Sharklets are made from composite materials that enhance the aerodynamic properties of the aircraft and offer a 4% reduction in fuel consumption while reducing carbon dioxide and mono-nitrogen oxide emissions. Moreover, the addition of Sharklets can increase the flight range and payload capacity. Under the terms of the contract, the A321 aircraft come equipped with CFM56-5B engines and single class configuration with a maximum capacity of 220 passengers. The aircraft cabins are fitted with modern ergonomic Pinnacle seats for maximum passenger comfort. Each seat row has four power sockets for charging mobile devices. UTair plans to operate these aircraft on popular domestic and international flights from Moscow to such destinations as Anapa, Omsk, Chelyabinsk, Hévíz, Thessaloniki, Dushanbe, Tashkent and other cities in UTair’s domestic and international route network. The aircraft chosen for the UTair fleet renewal program feature low fuel consumption and lower operating costs as well as reduced impact on the environment and increased levels of operational reliability and security.