Lufthansa Technik has entered the final certification phase for its AeroSHARK coating on Airbus A330ceo aircraft. The testing process is currently underway on an Airbus A330-300 operated by Discover Airlines at the Elbe Flugzeugwerke facility in Dresden.
AeroSHARK consists of a film featuring microscopic riblets 50 micrometers high that mimic shark skin. Applied to the fuselage and engine nacelles, the material is designed to reduce aerodynamic drag. Lufthansa Technik estimates that the current version lowers fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by approximately 1% per flight.
As of August 2026, the technology is in use on 22 Lufthansa Group aircraft. These planes collectively save about 19 tons of fuel and reduce CO2 emissions by 60 tons daily. Lufthansa Technik is now developing an advanced version of the film for wings and vertical stabilizers.
The company aims to double the fuel savings and emission reductions by expanding the surface area covered by the film. This approach allows for performance improvements on existing aircraft fleets without requiring major structural modifications.
