All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest airline, will be the first company in Asia to utilise AeroSHARK, the fuel-saving riblet film developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF, on its Boeing 777 passenger aircraft. Furthermore, ANA will be the first airline worldwide to operate the Boeing 777 equipped with this technology on both cargo and passenger aircraft. A Boeing 777-300ER fitted with the innovation will commence commercial operations with ANA today.
This is ANA’s second aircraft (JA796A) incorporating the technology. ANA has been operating a Boeing 777 Freighter (JA771F) featuring the riblet technology since September 2024.
The AeroSHARK film, inspired by the structure of shark skin, reduces frictional resistance, thereby decreasing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. ANA has verified these benefits since the first aircraft entered service, confirming the technology reduces fuel consumption and emissions by approximately one percent.
“The implementation of the AeroSHARK technology on more ANA aircraft represents our ongoing commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and improve operational efficiency,” said Kohei Tsuji, Executive Vice President, Engineering and Maintenance Centre at ANA. “This innovative technology is building a more sustainable future for ANA and the aviation industry.”
As the riblet technology is now being used on passenger aircraft, promotional decals will be applied to the door area, and sample products will be installed on board, allowing customers to directly touch and feel the riblet technology.
ANA plans to further expand the use of this technology across other aircraft of the same type to achieve the ANA Group’s medium-to-long-term environmental goals. The airline will continue to advance sustainability management through various initiatives under the “ANA Future Promise” programme, which aims to realise a sustainable society.
