Sharkskin System Used to Reduce Drag of 777 Cargo Jets

All Nippon Airways and EVA Air are early adopters of fuel-saving technology.

Eric Kulisch

Wednesday, September 04, 2024 at 12:49 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Airframe repair specialists apply the AeroShark technology to an All Nippon Airways 777 freighter. [Lufthansa Technik/ANA]

Key Takeaways:

Airlines, primarily freighter operators, are adopting AeroShark, a high-tech coating developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF, that mimics sharkskin to reduce aerodynamic drag, fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Lufthansa Cargo was the first to deploy this low-friction film on its Boeing 777 freighters, with Asian carriers EVA Air and All Nippon Airways now following suit to retrofit their fleets, expecting significant annual fuel and emission savings.
The AeroShark coating, which reduces drag by about 1 percent, is currently being applied to Boeing 777 freighter and passenger aircraft, with plans for broader certification across more aircraft types and surface areas for even greater environmental benefits.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Freighter airlines are leading the way in fitting aircraft with a new high-tech coating that mimics the structure of a shark’s skin to reduce aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption.

EVA Air and All Nippon Airways recently became the first Asian carriers to equip Boeing 777 freighters with the friction-reducing AeroShark surface film, following the footsteps of Lufthansa Cargo and Swiss International Air Lines.