Austrian Airlines has reported that its first Boeing 777-200ER equipped with AeroSHARK surface technology has completed its maiden flight.
The long-haul aircraft took off from Bangkok International Airport on its inaugural journey to Vienna following the recent approval by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) of AeroSHARK for the Boeing 777-200ER.
The EASA approval paves the way for the innovation to be used on an additional aircraft type.
The modification of four out of six Boeing 777-200ER aircraft operated by Austrian Airlines is expected to be completed in March 2025.
AeroSHARK is a surface film technology jointly developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF which imitates the microscopic structure of sharkskin to optimise airflow on an aircraft fuselage and engine nacelles.
The technology enables fuel savings of approximately 1%, translating into reductions in CO2 emissions which aligns with Austrian Airlines’ commitment to continuously reduce CO2 emissions in its operations.
The modification was carried out during a scheduled maintenance visit, ensuring seamless integration into the aircraft’s operational schedule.
Austrian Airlines is the first airline to apply this technology to the Boeing 777-200ER. For this purpose, Lufthansa Technik obtained an extended Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from EASA for this additional aircraft type.
Harald Gloy, chief operating officer of Lufthansa Technik, said: “With this certification, the fleet-wide implementation of our sharkskin technology on 777-200ER aircraft can begin, supporting airlines worldwide to enhance operational efficiency and achieve their environmental goals.
Francesco Sciortino, chief operating officer of Austrian Airlines, said: “Reducing our CO2 emissions in flight operations is at the centre of our sustainability efforts. The application of the ‘sharkskin’ developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF is an important investment that will enable us to fly our long-haul aircraft more efficiently.
Austrian Airlines estimates that for their four modified Boeing 777-200ERs, the fuel savings enabled by AeroSHARK will result in a reduction of around 2,650 metric tonnes of kerosene until 2028. This corresponds to approximately 8,300 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to about 46 direct flights between Vienna and New York.
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