Austrian Airlines to Debut AeroSHARK on Boeing 777-200ER

Austrian Airlines is set to become the launch operator for Lufthansa Technik’s AeroSHARK surface film on the Boeing 777-200ER. This innovative technology, inspired by the unique properties of sharkskin, aims to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

Scheduled to begin in December and complete by March 2025, Austrian Airlines will retrofit four of its six Boeing 777-200ER aircraft with AeroSHARK. The film, which covers approximately 830 square meters (8,900 square feet) of each aircraft’s fuselage and engine nacelles, is designed to lower aerodynamic drag and improve fuel consumption by about 1%.

Lufthansa Technik’s AeroSHARK film mimics the texture of sharkskin to minimize friction, leading to significant environmental benefits. Austrian Airlines COO Francesco Sciortino highlighted the impact of this technology: “At 1% efficiency improvement, the savings may seem modest, but it translates to thousands of tons of CO2 reduced annually on long-haul flights. Although our Boeing 777-200ERs are nearing the end of their service life, this investment moves us closer to our CO2 reduction goals.”

The projected savings from the AeroSHARK installation are substantial. Lufthansa Technik estimates that the film will reduce fuel consumption by 2,650 metric tons and cut CO2 emissions by over 8,300 metric tons over the next four years. This is roughly equivalent to the emissions of around 46 flights between Vienna and New York.

AeroSHARK is already in use on 17 Lufthansa Group aircraft, including one Lufthansa 747-400, 12 Swiss 777-300ERs, and four Lufthansa Cargo 777Fs. Lufthansa Technik COO Harald Gloy expressed optimism about the technology’s future, stating, “These are the first of, hopefully, many more aircraft to benefit from AeroSHARK.”

The demand for AeroSHARK from airlines outside the Lufthansa Group is growing. Lufthansa Technik is engaged in discussions with several external customers, with announcements expected soon. The company, in partnership with BASF, is also exploring AeroSHARK applications for other aircraft types, including the Airbus A330.

While specific timelines for these new developments remain undisclosed, Lufthansa Technik anticipates expanding AeroSHARK’s use to additional aircraft models in the future. The innovative surface film represents a significant step towards more sustainable aviation practices, aligning with the industry’s broader goals of reducing environmental impact and improving fuel efficiency.

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