Lufthansa Technik has entered the final phase of certification for its AeroSHARK drag-reducing surface film on the Airbus A330-200 and A330-300.
A Discover Airlines A330-300 is the first Airbus aircraft to receive the technology and will undergo several weeks of test flights before and after installation at Elbe Flugzeugwerke in Dresden. The certification process with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency includes technical documentation, ground and flight testing, and final validation in commercial service.
Developed by Lufthansa Technik and Surventis, formerly BASF Coatings, AeroSHARK uses microscopic riblets inspired by shark skin to reduce aerodynamic drag. Applied to the fuselage and engine cowlings, it can cut fuel consumption and CO? emissions by around 1%.
The technology is already certified for the Boeing 777F, 777-300ER and 777-200ER. As of August 2026, 22 Lufthansa Group aircraft were equipped with AeroSHARK, collectively saving around 19 tonnes of fuel and 60 tonnes of CO? per day.
Lufthansa Technik and Surventis are also developing a new generation of the film for wings and tail surfaces, which could potentially double the savings. Mastercard is supporting the current A330 certification project through a sustainability partnership with Lufthansa Group.
This post was published on 9 September 2026 12:22
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