Lufthansa Technik has officially commenced testing of a next-generation AeroSHARK fuel-saving surface technology on a short-haul commercial aircraft, marking the initial trial of the material outside of long-haul operations. The flight testing is being conducted on an Airbus A319 operated by Lufthansa City Airlines, registered under tail number D-ABGK, which operates regular flights on the domestic route between Munich and Hamburg. The testing period is scheduled to run through February 2027.
The research project is conducted in collaboration with development partner Surventis, formerly known as BASF Coatings. To gather operational data during standard commercial service, technicians have applied approximately 70 transparent film patches, each measuring 20 by 20 centimeters, to both the interior and exterior sides of the aircraft's engine cowlings as well as designated surface areas on the fuselage.
This research phase focuses on assessing material performance and durability under routine flight operations. The 70 test patches incorporate variations in material structure and layer composition to determine which combination delivers optimal resistance to wear while remaining simple to apply, clean, and remove without leaving residue. The ultimate development objective is to produce material variants suitable for application on aircraft wings and vertical and horizontal stabilizers, which experience significantly higher aerodynamic loads than fuselage surfaces.
AeroSHARK utilizes a riblet structure featuring microscopic grooves approximately 50 micrometers high, designed to align with airflow and reduce aerodynamic drag during flight, yielding fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emission reductions of roughly 1% per flight. As of July 2026, the Lufthansa Group has installed the technology on 22 long-haul aircraft across four group airlines, and Lufthansa Technik is conducting regular inspections during ground maintenance stops in Hamburg as the short-haul test progresses.
