AeroSHARK

Just by using the sharkskin technology, the global fleet of long-haul aircraft could save close to five million tons of kerosene per year. AeroSHARK is a durable bionic film that successfully mimics the skin of sharks and optimizes the airflow thus enabling significant fuel savings.

Together with the leading global chemicals and coatings manufacturer BASF, we developed a functional biomimetic technology: a film with a barely perceptible ribbed texture of small protrusions – riblets. Sized in patches for easy and targeted application, the film has millions of these prism-shaped riblets, each one 50 micrometers high. Applied to the aircraft in a specific manner and aligned with the airflow, the riblets achieve efficiency gains, by reduced friction, similar to those of their counterparts in nature, and can also improve lift if attached on wings.

The riblet film is easy to apply, even on large commercial aircraft - approximately 800 square meters of AeroSHARK riblet film are for example applied to the Boeing 777F cargo aircraft on fuselage and nacelles by hand. Once applied, there are no special requirements for cleaning. The riblet film is extremely resilient, withstands large temperature shifts, pressure differentials and the ultra violet radiation on high flight levels.

Numbers as of October 2024
* The rollout is in progress/planned for the entire fleet or parts of it.

First airline based in the Americas to install AeroSHARK

Trial in LATAM’s real flight operations confirms drag-reducing effect

LATAM was the first airline outside the Lufthansa Group and in the Americas region to adopt this innovative CO₂-saving solution. Since December 2023, a modified aircraft has shown approximately a one percent reduction in jet fuel consumption in daily operations. Based on the positive results, LATAM plans to retrofit four more Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with AeroSHARK. This leads to expected annual savings of up to 2,000 metric tons of kerosene and 6,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions, which is equivalent to approximately 28 scheduled flights from São Paulo to Miami on a Boeing 777.

Global frontrunner All Nippon Airways

First airline to equip both passenger and freighter version of the Boeing 777

ANA is the first individual airline worldwide to operate both passenger and freighter variants of the Boeing 777 with AeroSHARK. The first modified Boeing 777F began scheduled cargo flights in early September 2024, with plans to extend the AeroSHARK technology to a passenger aircraft by spring 2025, furthering ANA’s commitment to investment in fuel efficient technologies that reduce emissions. The contracted Boeing 777F and 777-300ER aircraft will have nearly the entire fuselage covered with the sharkskin-inspired film, resulting in estimated annual savings of approximately 250 metric tons of fuel and 800 metric tons of CO2 for each aircraft.

The introduction of AeroSHARK technology on our Boeing 777 aircraft marks a significant milestone in our sustainability strategy, in support of our broader goal of reducing carbon emissions across our fleet. We are proud to be the first airline in the world to implement this innovative technology to both passenger and freighter version of the Boeing 777, reinforcing our dedication to delivering excellence and reducing our carbon footprint.

Kohei Tsuji

Member of the Board, Executive Vice President, Engineering and Maintenance Center, ANA

Entire 777F fleet to be equipped

EVA Air first airline in Asia to sign for AeroSHARK modification

EVA Air is the first Asian airline having signed for modifications with the drag-reducing and hence fuel-saving AeroSHARK surface technology. The Taipei-based airline decided to have its entire cargo fleet of nine Boeing 777F long-range freighters modified with the innovative riblet films covering the aircraft’s fuselage and engine nacelles. Thus the frictional resistance of the aircraft is reduced so significantly that fuel consumption and the resulting emissions are reduced by around one percent. Extrapolated to EVA Air’s nine 777F aircraft, this equates to annual savings of more than 2,500 metric tons of kerosene and more than 7,800 metric tons of CO2 emissions.

More than 100,000 flight hours with AeroSHARK within the Lufthansa Group

As of now, 17 Lufthansa Group aircraft modified with drag-reducing riblet film are roaming the skies. Twelve Boeing 777-300ERs of Swiss International Air Lines and four 777F of Lufthansa Cargo have been busy collecting flight hours. Along with Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-400 the squad has already accumulated more than 100,000 flight hours with AeroSHARK.

Reducing emissions with innovations

SWISS modifies entire 777 fleet

All twelve Boeing 777 aircraft are in service with SWISS since May 2024. It is the first time that an entire Boeing long haul fleet of an airline has been optimized with the new technology. Each aircraft takes about a week to have its AeroSHARK film applied, which requires high-precision workmanship from the maintenance crew. The commitment to this technology is delivering very positive results and is enabling SWISS to take a further substantial step in making their flight operations more sustainable. Even supposedly small technical innovations can make an important contribution to reducing CO₂ emissions when flying.

Lufthansa Cargo equips entire 777F freighter fleet

Flying more sustainably

AeroSHARK was rolled out on Lufthansa Cargo's entire Boeing 777F freighter fleet from the beginning of 2023, making the aircraft more economical and reducing emissions. As a result, this has led to a drag reduction of more than one percent. For the entire fleet of ten aircraft, this translates to annual savings of around 4,000 tons of kerosene and almost 13,000 tons of CO₂emissions, which is the equivalent of 53 individual freight flights from Frankfurt to Shanghai.

AeroSHARK set to debut on Boeing 777-200ER

Austrian Airlines the first to equip 777-200ER

Four of Austrian Airlines’ six Boeing 777-200ERs will be sequentially modified with Lufthansa Technik’s AeroSHARK surface film as of December 2024. As a result, total savings of approximately 2,650 metric tons of fuel and over 8,300 metric tons of CO₂ are expected over a service life of four years. This corresponds to around 46 flights from Vienna to New York. The modification of the four Boeing 777-200ER aircraft operated by Austrian Airlines should be completed in March 2025