One of Latin America’s largest airlines, LATAM Airlines, has decided to expand the AeroSHARK coating across its entire Boeing 777-300ER fleet after being satisfied with trial results.
Known as “AeroSHARK” — often referred to as “sharkskin” technology — the riblet surface film consists of microscopic grooves applied along the aircraft fuselage in the direction of airflow. This structure reduces turbulence-induced drag in the boundary layer, lowering overall aerodynamic resistance. As a result, fuel consumption and carbon emissions decrease.
Under a new agreement signed between LATAM and Lufthansa Technik, the developer of the technology, all 10 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in the airline’s fleet will be equipped with AeroSHARK by 2027. The coating was developed through a partnership between Lufthansa Technik and chemical company BASF.
According to Lufthansa Technik’s calculations, applying AeroSHARK to LATAM’s entire Boeing 777 fleet could save approximately 4,000 tons of jet fuel annually, translating into a reduction of around 12,000 tons of carbon emissions per year.
Once the program is completed, LATAM will become the second airline in the world to outfit its entire Boeing 777 fleet with this technology. The first carrier to do so was Swiss International Air Lines.
