Austrian Airlines To Be 777-200ER AeroSHARK Launch Operator

Austrian Airlines is equipping four Boeing 777-200ERs with Lufthansa Technik’s AeroSHARK surface film, marking the technology’s debut on the 777-200ER.

Lufthansa Technik says the AeroSHARK film improves fuel consumption by around 1%. The product replicates the properties of sharkskin, reducing friction, which cuts fuel consumption and emissions.

On Aug. 19, Lufthansa Technik named Austrian Airlines as the first airline to use AeroSHARK on the 777-200ER. Austrian operates six 777-200ERs, and four of these will be equipped.

“At 1%, the sharkskin’s efficiency potential may not sound like much, but in total it will save thousands of tons of CO₂ per year on long-haul flights,” Austrian Airlines COO Francesco Sciortino said. “Even though our Boeing 777-200ERs are in their final years of service, we take this investment to get one step closer to our CO₂ reduction targets.”

Lufthansa Technik estimates the savings at 2,650 metric tons of fuel and over 8,300 metric tons of CO₂ over the coming four years, estimating this as equivalent to around 46 Vienna-New York flights.

The Austrian Airlines 777-200ER modifications will begin in December and are expected to be completed by March 2025. Around 830 m² (8,900 ft.²) of the film is needed for the 777-200ER’s fuselage and engine nacelles.

“These are the first of, hopefully, many more aircraft of this type,” Lufthansa Technik COO Harald Gloy said.

AeroSHARK is currently flying on 17 Lufthansa Group aircraft, spanning three aircraft types. These comprise a single Lufthansa 747-400, 12 Swiss 777-300ERs and four Lufthansa Cargo 777Fs.

When asked about demand from non-Lufthansa Group airlines, a Lufthansa Technik spokesperson said intensive talks are underway with “several” external customers, which should be made public “very soon.”

Lufthansa Technik and BASF are also continuing to develop AeroSHARK for other aircraft types.

“Long-haul aircraft, such as the Airbus A330, are particularly interesting,” the Lufthansa Technik spokesperson said. “We cannot comment on the time horizon at present.”