On January 12, 2025, Austrian Airlines' first Boeing 777-200ER set a remarkable milestone: It took off with the innovative Aeroshark surface technology, a technology that uses the microscopic structure of shark skin and optimizes the aircraft's aerodynamics. The first flight from Bangkok to Vienna not only marked the beginning of a new era for the airline, but also an important step in the aviation industry to increase efficiency and reduce CO2. With this technology, Austrian Airlines expects to noticeably reduce the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of its long-haul fleet.
The technology behind Aeroshark was developed by Lufthansa Technik in collaboration with BASF and imitates the unique properties of shark skin. The specially structured ribs, known as "riblets", significantly reduce air resistance at critical points on the aircraft. This improvement in aerodynamics leads to fuel savings of around one percent per flight, which has a positive effect on the airline's operating costs and environmental footprint.
Austrian Airlines is the first airline to use this technology on the Boeing 777-200ER. As part of an approval by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the technology was certified specifically for this aircraft type. The successful implementation on the first Boeing 777-200ER with the registration OE-LPC paved the way for the conversion of the entire long-haul fleet. By March 2025, a total of four of Austrian Airlines' six Boeing 777-200ERs are to be equipped with Aeroshark.
savings and environmental impacts
Austrian Airlines hopes that the application of Aeroshark technology on its four Boeing 777-200ERs will save around 2.650 tonnes of fuel by 2028. This saving corresponds to over 8.300 tonnes of CO2 emissions, which is roughly equivalent to the CO2 footprint of 46 flights between Vienna and New York. This is a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions, although it is still a relatively small percentage compared to the airline's total emissions.
Nevertheless, Austrian Airlines sees the move as an important building block in its overall strategy to reduce emissions. In line with the Lufthansa Group's goals, the airline has set itself the goal of reducing its CO2 emissions by around 2030 percent by 2019 compared to 30,6. The introduction of Aeroshark technology into flight operations represents an important step on this path and is accompanied by a number of other measures aimed at improving the company's overall balance in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
International Perspectives: Aeroshark in the World Fleet
The success of Aeroshark at Austrian Airlines is not an isolated one. The technology has already proven itself in other parts of the Lufthansa Group and also at external airlines. There are currently 22 Boeing 777s equipped with Aeroshark in use worldwide, operated by six different airlines. Lufthansa Technik and BASF are working together to expand the use of the technology to other aircraft types, with particular emphasis on larger areas and additional models.
The benefits of Aeroshark technology are not only fuel savings, but also improving the economics of the entire fleet. Airlines adopting this technology can reduce their operating costs in the long term, resulting in a competitive advantage. As the technology is now successfully used in various global fleets, Aeroshark could find wider application in the aviation industry and make an important contribution to aircraft modernization.
Technology with Perspective
The application of Aeroshark is an example of the increasing role of innovative technologies in the aviation industry, which not only improve efficiency but also contribute to the achievement of long-term business goals such as emissions reduction. The development of Aeroshark is a significant step forward in terms of optimizing the aerodynamic properties of aircraft, and its successful implementation on the Boeing 777-200ER is seen as a step into the future of aviation.
Although the savings from the technology may initially seem relatively small, when viewed in the context of the entire fleet, it is clear that such innovations can have a significant impact on the aviation industry. If more airlines adopt this technology and apply it to their own fleets, Aeroshark could become a standard technology for modern long-haul aircraft.
The maiden flight of Austrian Airlines' first Boeing 777-200ER with the new Aeroshark surface technology represents an important step for the airline and the aviation industry as a whole. By reducing air resistance and the associated reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, Austrian Airlines is setting an example for the future of long-haul flights. With the planned expansion of the technology to other aircraft in the fleet and the positive feedback from practice, the Aeroshark technology is a successful example of the integration of innovative solutions into global air traffic.