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.

For anyone working in the fresh produce industry, attending last week’s three-day Fruit Logistica event was an absolute must. Walking through the halls, a bubble of different languages could be heard, mainly Spanish, German, English, Italian, Mandarin, French, and Dutch, complemented by a variety of African languages and idioms. An initial evaluation by organizer Messe Berlin shows a high level of satisfaction: 93.8% of the participants surveyed had anoverall positive impression of the trade show. 86.3% of the 2,600 exhibitors rate their attendance as a positive commercial success; and 87.7% of the exhibitors will run stands again at Fruit Logistica come 2027.

To obtain more detailed information about exhibitors’ motives to attend the Berlin-held show we spoke with managers representing different sectors: fruit trade, air freight, and ocean freight. Here are their inputs:

Ignacio Caballero, Director Marketing, Frutas de Chile
Our organization represents 90% of fresh fruit exports from Chile to the world.

Of our 200 members, representatives from 60 fresh produce companies came to Berlin to showcase their products to visitors and industry professionals at a joint exhibition stand.

Combined, our member companies generate annual turnover of USD 8.5 billion in this product segment. This makes our alliance the second-largest exporter in Chile in terms of value. Speaking about markets, the Fareast ranks first with just under 50% in terms of value, followed by the USA with around 25%, Latin America (15%) and the EU (10%). For the months and even years ahead, we see growth potential, particularly in transcontinental trade of fresh produce with the EU.

Most of our goods (80%) are transported by reefer sea freight containers, air freight accounts for 10% as do road services to neighboring Latin American countries such as Brazil.

As far as the current year is concerned, we expect a further increase in exports, at least for some fresh products, although cherries suffered a decline last year. However, in agribusiness, which is very diverse, it is impossible to make precise forecasts. This is because weather conditions can be very favorable one year and rather critical the next. In some cases, trade agreements or tariffs also play a supportive or restraining role. These external factors are beyond our control.

Thilo Schäfer, Director Cargo, Condor Flugdienst GmbH
Since I became responsible for the cargo business at Condor in NOV2023, we are running a stand at the Fruit Logistica trade fair every year. The Berlin-held show is an extremely important event for us, as 60% of all import shipments we fly in the lower decks of our passenger aircraft to Germany are perishables. This makes us the second-largest air freight carrier of these special time and temperature critical items on international routes to Germany. Given the market importance of these goods, we really wonder why some of our major competitors who had their own stands at Fruit Logistica in the past are not represented at the current Berlin trade show. But that is their decision.

In order to maintain the quality of this fresh produce throughout the entire supply chain, we have set up cold storage facilities at central transit airports like Cancun in the Dominican Republic, or, as in Frankfurt, we utilize existing facilities such as the Perishable Center. We also use a special vacuum cooler that extracts heat from shipments. This allows us to quickly reach the temperature required for the onward transport of shipments. This is particularly important for the subsequent transfers of temperature critical berries, asparagus, cherries, salads or grapes from Frankfurt to other final destinations in Europe, like Amsterdam for instance. There, we no longer deliver the goods to freight terminals at Schiphol airport, but hand them over directly to a local wholesaler. This shortens the transit time from origin to shelf and adds to product integrity.

Another important factor worth mentioning is the fact that we meet many clients face-to-face at the trade fair, including many established customers. They remain loyal to us because of the ongoing quality of our air transport services, they repeatedly told us.

And here comes a major news we just announced at Berlin’s trade show: In Latin America, we have decided to collaborate with the Panama-based cargo airline Uniworld. The carrier connects our local hub in Cancun with a multitude of destinations in Central and South America, such as Quito, Lima, Bogota, San Jose de Costa Rica, Caracas, and Havana operating B737F aircraft. Hence, our regional partner Uniworld closes an important gap in our global network by offering important feeder services enabling us to widen our market reach. As a matter of fact, on 03FEB26, a day before Fruit Logistica was kicked off, Uniworld flew our first joint shipment from Cancun to Panama City. As it looks, many more will follow. We will intensify this strategy of collaborating with local partners at important transit stations.

Thorsten Welter, Director Trade Management Latin America – South Europe, Hapag-Lloyd AG
Attending Berlin’s Fruit Logistica is an absolute must for our shipping company. The trade fair is a platform for connecting with our global customers in the fresh produce logistics sector, whether they are producers, manufacturers, or freight forwarders. They are all gathered here. From this perspective, Fruit Logistica is the place to be for us.

Not widely known is the fact that Hapag-Lloyd is the number 5 worldwide in reefer container shipping services, keeping perishables fresh and cool, from loading to delivery. That is another reason why trade fairs like this one here in Berlin or their counterparts in Madrid, Sao Paulo, or Shanghai, each with their own industry-specific focus, play such an important role for us to let people know. These are places where contacts are made and strengthened, which then ideally lead to concrete business deals. In addition, as here in Berlin, innovations in packaging, project ideas from start-ups, application models for artificial intelligence, and new business concepts are presented exclusively to a specialist and wider audience, which makes this fair very attractive.

What most visitors don’t see is the fact that attending trade shows requires a great deal of organizational planning by the exhibitors. Customer meetings must be arranged and appointments coordinated. FRUIT Attraction in Madrid, which always takes place at the end of September or, as this year, from October 6 to 8, is a fixed date in Hapag-Lloyd’s corporate calendar. Alongside Berlin’s FRUIT Logistica, it is the international epicenter for operators, retailers, and traders in the fruit and vegetable sectors. It is therefore of enormous strategic importance to us. So see you in Madrid next time.

From 04-06FEB26, Berlin was the epicenter for representatives of the global fresh produce industry. It was a colorful event, with halls full of participants attending interesting presentations where a multitude of innovative ideas from experts, companies and business associations were unveiled. Carriers such as Condor Cargo or Turkish Airlines Cargo, the world’s major shipping lines, forwarding agents and hundreds of fruit producers or traders showed their face to the customer at stands or during panels. In a nutshell: Berlin was worth the admittance fee. It provided new and valuable inspiration for the industry.

2,600 exhibitors from 90 countries presented their products or showcased business ideas and innovations at the Berlin-held trade fair. In addition to the suppliers, organizer Messe Berlin welcomed more than 67,000 visitors from 151 countries. With all due journalistic objectivity, it was a trade show of superlatives. The products were visible and could be experienced firsthand by anyone interested, and exhibitor staff were always present at stands to answer questions raised by attendees. Fruit Logistica 2026 offered ample food for thought for industry or the broad public in presentations, lectures, and discussion forums – on topics such as improved quality control, greener supply chains, and intelligent packaging and technological solutions, to name just a few highlights of the extensive program. Climate change, rising production costs, volatile markets and shifting consumer behavior make face-to-face exchange more important than ever. “Especially in challenging times, the industry needs places where it can look ahead together,” emphasized David Ruetz, “FRUIT LOGISTICA provides exactly that framework.”

The official thus sent out an optimistic signal right from the start.

AI dominated the agenda
For the very first time and in contrast to last year’s Fruit Logistica, artificial intelligence played a prominent role. Whether in automation, production, transport solutions, or predictive planning, AI has emerged at this year’s fair as a true game changer, emphasized David Ruetz, SVP Messe Berlin GmbH, in his welcoming address. AI and automation are reconfiguring global supply chains, making them faster, more connected and more resilient. Practical examples from production, logistics and trade illustrate that technological innovation is already part of everyday operations and is increasingly influencing strategic decisions.

Fresh perspectives were also provided by StartupWorld. Young companies from various countries presented practical solutions to real-world challenges, ranging from automated quality control and disease tracking to robotics and new packaging materials. In pitch sessions, innovative ideas meet decision-makers from retail, production and logistics directly.

Should the fresh food industry refrain from air transport?
A high-level panel discussed how the fresh produce trade can establish sustainable supply chains by avoiding flying fresh fruit halfway around the world for climate protection reasons? “Sustainability is no longer a buzzword, but a reality,” said Dorra Zairi, Expert Sourcing & Markets at Import Promotion Desk. Agriculture in particular is feeling the harsh consequences of the overexploitation of the planet, explained Simon Derrick, Head of Sustainability at Blue Skies Holdings and co-founder of the Fairmiles initiative: “Climate change is here, and it is already determining how and where food can be produced.” Biodiversity is declining and the depletion of resources is accelerating. And there is something else to note: “For decades, poverty in the world has been declining, but now it is rising again, and that shows that sustainability as we have approached it so far is not working for everyone in this world.”

Sweden leads the way in climate protection
ICA Sverige, Sweden’s largest retail chain, decided a few years ago to stop using air freight. Swedish consumers care deeply about sustainability and climate protection, explained ICA Business Area Director Maria Wieloch, and air freight is part of the emissions problem. For the ICA chain, this meant that it could no longer offer some fresh products with a short shelf life. The company weighed up the options and prioritized its sustainability mission over some of the products in its range, but the question remains: “This may be fair for the planet, but is it also fair for people?”:

No, exclaimed Jeremy Knops, Délégué Général at COLEAD, a network for sustainable and inclusive agriculture and partner organization of Fairmiles. The problem is he reasoned that such sustainability initiatives by industrialized countries often deprive producers in poorer countries and communities of their livelihoods. These are the people who are already suffering the most from climate change – even though they are the least responsible for global warming and pollution. If these producers were cut off from supply chains, it would mean the loss of their livelihoods – money for food, healthcare and their children’s education. This must be weighed against the actual climate impact of transporting fresh fruit by aircraft. “Yes, aviation is growing, but fresh fruit transport is not the driver here,” Jeremy summarized.

“We need more research to understand the consequences of our sustainability decisions,” warned Simon Derrick. “We must ensure that any measures we take in the name of sustainability do not disproportionately and unfairly harm the most vulnerable people or communities.” Fairmiles and COLEAD have therefore established five “just transition” principles to ensure that environmental sustainability does not destroy families’ livelihoods: business fundamentals, impact on people, proportionality, responsible data collection and fairness in change.