Airbus A330 with AeroSHARK: Artificial Shark Skin Saves Fuel

Agile and fuel-efficient in the air Airbus Aims to Save Fuel with Artificial Shark Skin

2026-09-09 Source: dpa 1 min Reading Time

Airbus aircraft will also fly with artificial shark skin in the future, as was announced today. The first certification tests are currently underway ...

Here, two experts from Lufthansa Technik are applying the “AeroSHARK” coating to an aircraft. Until now, Boeing has been using this coating, which mimics the skin structure of sharks. Now Airbus also wants to use it to make its aircraft more fuel-efficient.(Image: Lufthansa Technik) — Here, two experts from Lufthansa Technik are applying the “AeroSHARK” coating to an aircraft. Until now, Boeing has been using this coating, which mimics the skin structure of sharks. Now Airbus also wants to use it to make its aircraft more fuel-efficient.
(Image: Lufthansa Technik)

For the first time worldwide, an Airbus A330 long-haul aircraft is being fitted with the “AeroSHARK” skin at the Elbe Aircraft Works in Dresden, as Lufthansa Technik has now announced. The aircraft belongs to Lufthansa subsidiary Discover Airlines, the announcement further states. The artificial shark skin has also been in use on the Boeing 777 for several years now. The application of this technology to the Airbus A330 is now accompanied by regulatory certification for this aircraft type. The term “AeroSHARK” refers to a technology that mimics the properties of shark skin using an ultra-thin film. The surface features microscopic, parallel grooves that break up turbulence and effectively channel seawater past the shark’s body. This reduces drag, a principle that also applies to airplanes and air. This reduces fuel consumption during flight and, consequently, CO₂ emissions. The film was developed by Lufthansa Technik and Surventis, as we learn. The Airbus A330—the second-most-commonly used aircraft for long-haul flights—will also benefit from this technology.

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.