American Airlines and Aviation Partners Boeing have jointly announced the first revenue flight of a Boeing 767-300ER outfitted with blended winglets that reduce the drag caused by lift without increasing the size of the wing.

The winglets help increase the plane’s lift without increasing engine power — a combination that improves overall fuel efficiency, saving upwards of 500,000 gallons of fuel per fitted aircraft and generate less carbon dioxide.

American Airlines plans to install Blended Winglet on its entire fleet to Boeing 767-300ERs aircraft by 2011 — that may save the airline upwards of 29 million gallons of fuel each year.

Not bad!