LATAM to Equip Entire 777-300ER Fleet With AeroSHARK

LATAM Airlines Group is expanding its use of AeroSHARK drag-reduction technology across its entire Boeing 777-300ER fleet, reinforcing its commitment to fuel efficiency and emissions reduction.

LATAM was the first airline outside the Lufthansa Group to adopt AeroSHARK, a surface film technology jointly developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF Coatings. The airline has now extended its agreement with Lufthansa Technik to include five additional AeroSHARK shipsets, which will be used to retrofit the remaining aircraft in its fleet of ten 777-300ERs.

By the end of 2025, five LATAM aircraft were already operating with AeroSHARK installed. The final modifications are scheduled for completion in 2027, at which point the airline’s entire 777-300ER subfleet will be equipped with the technology.

LATAM began testing AeroSHARK in December 2023, modifying its first aircraft without a public announcement to evaluate performance under real-world operating conditions. After nearly a year of daily operations, the aircraft demonstrated the expected fuel burn and emissions reduction of approximately one percent. Following this validation, LATAM ordered four additional shipsets in 2024 before committing to full fleet coverage.

AeroSHARK is a functional surface film designed to mimic the flow-optimized structure of sharkskin. It features microscopic riblets, measuring around 50 micrometres, that are aligned with the airflow to reduce aerodynamic drag. In its expanded configuration on the 777-300ER, the riblet film covers nearly the entire fuselage and engine nacelles, totaling approximately 950 square meters per aircraft.

Once all ten aircraft are modified, LATAM estimates the one percent drag reduction will translate into annual savings of up to 4,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel and approximately 12,000 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The environmental benefit is equivalent to about 56 scheduled flights between São Paulo and Miami operated by a Boeing 777.

With a total order of ten shipsets, LATAM is set to become only the second airline worldwide to operate a complete widebody subfleet equipped with AeroSHARK technology, marking a significant step in its long-term sustainability strategy.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, avitrader.com