ANA introduces first AeroSHARK-aircraft by LHT and BASF

All Nippon Airways (ANA) has welcomed another marine-inspired aircraft to its fleet: its first Boeing 777 equipped with AeroSHARK. This revolutionary surface technology, inspired by shark skin, reduces drag and enhances fuel-efficiency. ANA has become the first airline globally to operate both passenger and freighter variants of the Boeing 777 with this innovative technology.

The first modified Boeing 777F (JA771F) commenced scheduled cargo flights with plans to extend AeroSHARK technology to a passenger aircraft (JA796A) by next spring, reinforcing ANA’s commitment to investing in fuel-efficient technologies that reduce emissions.

AeroSHARK, a joint development by Lufthansa Technik and BASF, is a functional surface film inspired by the drag-reducing structure of sharkskin. The film features tiny ribs, known as riblets, approximately 50 micrometres in size. ANA’s MRO partner, under Lufthansa Technik’s guidance, has recently applied several hundred square metres of these riblet films to the fuselage of JA771F, which re-entered commercial service with its first AeroSHARK-optimised flight from Tokyo-Narita to Chicago-O’Hare.

Although the riblet modification is almost invisible, it is expected to deliver significant fuel and emissions savings. The contracted Boeing 777F and 777-300ER aircraft will have nearly the entire fuselage covered with the sharkskin-inspired film, resulting in estimated annual savings of approximately 250 metric tons of fuel and 800 metric tons of CO2 for each aircraft.

Kohei Tsuji, a member of the board and executive vice president of the engineering and maintenance centre at ANA, highlighted that the introduction of AeroSHARK technology on their Boeing 777 aircraft marks a significant milestone in its sustainability strategy, supporting its broader goal of reducing carbon emissions across the fleet. ANA is proud to be the first airline in the world to implement this innovative technology on both passenger and freighter versions of the Boeing 777, reinforcing its commitment to delivering excellence and reducing its carbon footprint.

As ANA begins operations with two Boeing 777s equipped with riblet films, the airline will assess the effectiveness of this technology in its daily operations, with plans to expand its use across other aircraft of the same type. This initiative is part of the ANA Group’s medium-to-long-term environmental strategy, which includes the broader “ANA Future Promise” initiative aimed at realising a sustainable society and promoting ESG management.