Discover Airlines has become the first operator to put an Airbus aircraft equipped with Lufthansa Technik’s AeroSHARK surface technology into regular scheduled service, marking a milestone for the fuel-saving modification.
The Airbus A330, registered as D-AIKP, completed its inaugural flight to Florida last Thursday, October 15. The long-haul aircraft was fitted with AeroSHARK at Dresden Airport in late August before undergoing extensive test flights.
Developed by Lufthansa Technik and Surventis, AeroSHARK is a transparent film featuring microscopic grooves that mimic sharkskin. Applied to the aircraft’s fuselage and engine nacelles, the coating reduces aerodynamic drag, potentially cutting fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by about 1%.
Analysis of flight-test data confirmed that the modification could be used safely and reliably in regular operations, the companies said.
“With D-AIKP, we have not only added our first AeroSHARK-equipped aircraft to the fleet, but also reached an important milestone,” said Sascha Unterbarnscheidt, chief operating officer of Discover Airlines. He added that the aircraft, dubbed the “Discover Airlines Shark,” would carry passengers to holiday destinations.
