en.Wedoany.com Reported - Lufthansa, in collaboration with BASF, has introduced AeroSHARK, a shark skin-inspired fuel-saving film for aircraft, which is gaining wider adoption in the aviation industry. This technology replicates the streamlined structure of shark skin using an adhesive film with approximately 50-micrometer longitudinal ribs on its surface, reducing flight drag.
The AeroSHARK film was first launched in 2022. LATAM Airlines, the initial user, validated a 1% fuel savings after completing undisclosed tests on one aircraft in 2023. In 2024, the airline ordered four additional sets, followed by five more earlier this year, totaling 10 sets, with the latest kits expected to be retrofitted by 2027. These kits are designed to cover nearly the entire fuselage and engine nacelles of LATAM's Boeing 777 fleet, potentially saving up to 4,000 metric tons of aviation fuel annually, equivalent to 56 regular flights from São Paulo to Miami.
In May of this year, Lufthansa announced a new certification partnership with Airbus to install AeroSHARK kits on the wings and stabilizers of the Airbus A330ceo. The two companies are jointly developing kits for the fuselage and engine nacelles. The certification plan will comprehensively assess the impact of rib application on flight dynamics, lightning strike protection, structural loads, maintenance, and all related aircraft systems, including flight controls, autopilot, and navigation systems. If progress is smooth, adding wing and stabilizer applications could result in fuel savings of over 2% on long-haul flights.
As of April 2026, aircraft retrofitted with AeroSHARK have accumulated over 350,000 flight hours, covering 30 Boeing 777s operated by multiple airlines and one Lufthansa Boeing 747. According to Lufthansa, the technology has saved over 20,600 metric tons of aviation fuel and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by more than 65,000 metric tons.
Similar technologies are emerging. On June 30, Australian startup MAKO announced the completion of its Series A funding round to support its shark-inspired fuel-saving adhesive, FlightFilm. The round was led by Virescent Ventures on behalf of itself and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), with participation from IAGi Ventures, a division of International Airlines Group (IAG), Zero Infinity Partners, Grok Ventures, Skip Capital, IP Group, and TreeArc. International Airlines Group (IAG) plans to test SharkFilm on one of its passenger aircraft this year. The company is also collaborating with Delta Air Lines' Sustainable Skies Lab and has a contract with the U.S. Air Force to trial FlightFilm on a C-17.
