A LATAM Airlines Brazil Boeing 777 has successfully been fitted with Lufthansa Technik’s innovative, fuel-saving AeroSHARK film, with plans afoot to include four more.
It is the first time that Lufthansa Technik has fitted the AeroSHARK film on an aircraft operated by an external carrier in the Americas.
Lufthansa Technik confirmed on October 3, 2024, that LATAM plans to retrofit four additional Boeing 777s with the AeroSHARK technology bringing the total to five.
The first LATAM Boeing 777-300ER was fitted with the innovative film in December 2023, in São Paulo and has proved to save the carrier approximately 1% in fuel burn.
“Our fleet modernization strategy is a cornerstone of our commitment to sustainability and our vision of achieving net zero by 2050. We remain focused on innovation and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, ensuring our fleet evolves in line with our environmental goals,” said LATAM Airlines Group’s Director of Fleet and Projects, Sebastián Acuto.
Developed jointly by BASF and Lufthansa Technik, AeroSHARK is a surface film that mimics the flow-optimized structure of sharkskin, and features riblets measuring approximately 50 micrometers.
Once several hundred square meters of the film are applied to the aircraft fuselage and engine nacelles, it reduces drag, thereby leading to reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
“LATAM’s decision confirms once again: AeroSHARK works. This further encourages us to use our engineering skills and innovative strength to contribute to aviation with lower CO₂ emissions. We look forward to collaborating with more customers globally and applying our fuel-saving sharkskin technology to even more aircraft,” said Lufthansa Technik’s Senior Director of Sales in Latin America and the Caribbean, Robin Johansson.
Once LATAM Airlines Brazil’s five Boeing 777-300ERs are equipped with AeroSHARK, the airline can expect to save 2,000 metric tons of jet fuel and 6,000 metric tons of CO2 annually, the equivalent of 28 flights from São Paulo to Miami on a Boeing 777.
