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Lufthansa Technik To Fit More Latam 777s With AeroShark Riblet Films
LYON—Latam Airlines Group has ordered AeroShark riblet films from Lufthansa Technik (LHT) for an additional five Boeing 777s to further cut its fuel consumption, the maintenance and modification branch of the airline group announced Feb. 5.
The deal marks a technical and economical success for the AeroShark film, which improves the aerodynamics of an aircraft and thus increases efficiency. Since LHT obtained the first supplemental type certificate for the Boeing 747-400 in November 2019, the product has been slow to gain market traction. The repeat order by Latam signals favorable in-service experience on a significant scale.
Once all films are installed, Latam’s fleet of 10 777s—all 777-300ERs—will be equipped. “Latam’s first aircraft was almost secretly modified in December 2023 to thoroughly put AeroShark to the test even before publicly announcing the application,” LHT said. The first aircraft validated the promised 1% fuel and emissions reduction in day-to-day operations over almost one year, and Latam acquired four more shipsets in 2024. LHT has since modified the four aircraft and, thanks to the new order, expects to complete the 10th upgrade by the end of 2027.
AeroShark relies on prism-shaped riblets. Air friction creates turbulence on the aircraft’s surface and riblets move that turbulence 50 micrometers away, effectively reducing drag and therefore improving fuel efficiency. On a 777-300ER, the film covers 950 m2 (10,200 ft.2) and adds 150 kg (330 lb.). The fuel efficiency improvement and return on investment are comparable to an engine upgrade.
The film does not cover the entire surface of the aircraft. The crown area, for instance, is challenging both for aerodynamics and installation. LHT and its supplier, BASF Coatings, are studying how to increase that surface area, which could bring the fuel consumption improvement to 2-3%, LHT said.
Moreover, LHT plans to introduce AeroShark on the Airbus A330ceo in 2026. As it is designed for the cruise phase, AeroShark is suitable for long-haul flights and LHT has therefore pursued STCs for widebodies.
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