Following a year of operational validation, LATAM Airlines Group is extending the use of AeroSHARK drag-reduction technology across its entire Boeing 777-300ER sub fleet, reinforcing its focus on fuel efficiency and emissions reduction in long-haul operations. After initially introducing the sharkskin-inspired surface film in late 2023 and confirming fuel burn savings of around one percent in daily service, the carrier has ordered five additional AeroSHARK shipsets from Lufthansa Technik, bringing the total to ten. Once the final aircraft is modified in 2027, LATAM will become the second airline globally to operate a complete subfleet equipped with the technology.
The AeroSHARK riblet films, developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF Coatings, now cover almost the entire fuselage and engine nacelles of the Boeing 777-300ER, amounting to roughly 950 square meters per aircraft. Across the full LATAM 777 passenger fleet, the airline expects annual savings of up to 4,000 tons of jet fuel and around 12,000 tons of CO₂, equivalent to dozens of long-haul flights. The program does not include LATAM’s dedicated freighter fleet, which operates separately and consists primarily of passenger-to-freighter converted Boeing 767 aircraft.
The project positions LATAM as an early mover in applying incremental aerodynamic optimization at scale, at a time when airlines are under pressure to deliver measurable efficiency gains ahead of broader fleet renewal. Nicolas Seitz, Head of Fleet and Projects at LATAM Airlines Group, said: “Expanding AeroSHARK across our entire Boeing 777-300ER fleet demonstrates how LATAM translates innovation, operational efficiency and sustainability into concrete action. The results achieved with the first aircraft give us the confidence to scale this solution, reducing fuel consumption and emissions while maintaining the highest operational standards.” Lufthansa Technik noted that LATAM’s decision reflects growing industry interest in surface-based efficiency technologies, as further aircraft types and higher drag-reduction potential are already under development.
