Austrian Airlines has completed the installation of AeroSHARK surface technology on four of its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, making them the first in the world to feature this aerodynamic innovation on this aircraft type.

Developed by Lufthansa Technik in collaboration with BASF, AeroSHARK is a biomimetic surface film that mimics the structure of sharkskin. Comprising fine ribbed textures – known as riblets – each measuring around 50 micrometers, the film optimises aerodynamics by reducing frictional drag on the aircraft’s surface.

Applied to the fuselage and engine nacelles, each aircraft is fitted with approximately 830 sqm of AeroSHARK film. The result: a roughly 1% reduction in fuel consumption per flight.

Across the four modified Boeing 777s, Austrian Airlines anticipates saving around 2,650 metric tonnes of fuel and cutting over 8,300 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2028 – equivalent to about 46 flights between Vienna and New York.

This milestone follows Lufthansa Technik’s successful expansion of the Supplemental Type Certificate from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which now includes the Boeing 777-200ER.

Francesco Sciortino, chief operations officer of Austrian Airlines, said: “With our four ‘sharkskin’ aircraft, we are connecting Austria with the world even more efficiently. This cutting-edge technology allows us to maximise the fuel efficiency of our Boeing 777-200ER fleet until their rollover – making a valuable contribution to a more sustainable future.”

Harald Gloy, chief operations officer of Lufthansa Technik, said: “With Austrian Airlines, another airline has recognised and adopted the benefits of our sharkskin technology. The first four Boeing 777-200ERs are now equipped with AeroSHARK – and we hope many more will follow to further improve fleet efficiency.”

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