Lufthansa Technik tests AeroSHARK fuel‑saving coating on Airbus A319 narrow‑body jet

Lufthansa Technik, together with development partner Surventis (formerly BASF Coatings), has begun field trials of the AeroSHARK surface‑coating on a narrow‑body Airbus A319 operated by Lufthansa City Airlines (registration D‑ABGK). The aircraft flies the Munich‑Hamburg route and will carry about 70 transparent 20 × 20 cm foil patches on the fuselage and engine cowlings, with the aim of extending the technology to wing and tail surfaces for the first time. The coating mimics shark‑skin riblets to reduce aerodynamic drag, targeting roughly a 1 % reduction in fuel burn and CO₂ emissions per flight. Lufthansa’s long‑haul fleet already uses AeroSHARK on 22 Boeing 777‑300ER, 777F, 777‑200ER and a 747‑400 aircraft, saving an estimated 19 tonnes of kerosene and 60 tonnes of CO₂ daily. The narrow‑body test will run until February 2027, during which Lufthansa Technik will evaluate different material and layer configurations for durability and ease of removal.

The trial reflects Lufthansa’s broader effort to cut fuel consumption and meet environmental targets, while providing data that could enable wider adoption of the technology across other aircraft types.