Delta Air Lines will install a finlet modification package from Vortex Control Technologies (VCT) across its Boeing 737-800 and 737-900ER fleet, bringing the enhancement to 240 aircraft once installation has been completed.
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Delta’s decision to equip its Boeing 737-800 and 737-900ER fleet with Finlets reflects the airline’s continued focus on reducing fuel consumption, lowering emissions and improving operational efficiency through practical, data-driven solutions.
Finlets are aerodynamic devices installed on the aft fuselage of an aircraft that reshape airflow, reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency. All aircraft generate vortices in flight, particularly at the wing tips and aft fuselage. VCT’s Finlets reduce flow separation and improve the pressure distribution along the aft fuselage, resulting in lower fuel consumption and reduced carbon emissions.
The finlet implementation builds on Delta’s ongoing fleet modification approach and was cemented with safety and strategy in mind, driven by a rigorous evaluation process. The assessment encompassed flight test validation, analysis of operational trends and engineering review of aerodynamic performance using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis on Delta’s 737NG aircraft.