Lufthansa Technik has begun the process of certifying its AeroSHARK technology for the Airbus A330, bringing the sharkskin-inspired film coating to Airbus aircraft for the first time.
The certification will be achieved through a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), allowing the implementation of the coating on the fuselage and nacelles of existing A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft.
Andrew Muirhead, vice president of original equipment innovation at Lufthansa Technik, said: “The choice of the A330ceo as the next candidate for AeroSHARK certification is strategic, given the type’s widespread use and significant leverage on global consumption and emissions.
“With about 1,000 A330-200 and -300 aircraft in service worldwide, the potential for operational cost savings and substantial environmental benefits is vast.”
Developed in collaboration with BASF Coatings, the AeroSHARK film coating is designed to reduce in-flight drag and has been proven to be beneficial during cruise.
This makes long-haul aircraft prime candidates for the implementation of this technology.
Since its launch in 2019, Lufthansa Technik has already implemented AeroSHARK on a Boeing 747 and several Boeing 777 jets, and holds the certification for commercial retrofit on the 777-300ER, 777-200ER and 777F.
The Boeing 747 equipped with the technology, one of Lufthansa’s 747-400s, was used by the MRO firm as a testbed.
“With the certification for the A330ceo, it will soon be possible to extend these benefits to a wider number of aircraft and to further contribute to more sustainable aviation practices,” said Frank Naber, senior vice president of global surface treatment at BASF Coatings.
Given that the process requires detailed analyses and test campaigns, Lufthansa Technik expects the A330 to receive its AeroSHARK certification by 2026.
The MRO firm says that as of August 2025, AeroSHARK-fitted jets have saved more than 13,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel and reduced CO2 emissions by over 42,000 metric tons from an accumulated flight time of 232,000 hours.
