ANA Unveils First Boeing 777 with AeroSHARK Technology for Enhanced Fuel Efficiency
Breakthrough Technology Reduces Drag and Emissions
All Nippon Airways (ANA) has launched its first Boeing 777 featuring AeroSHARK technology from Lufthansa Technik, marking a significant advancement in fuel efficiency and sustainability. The innovative surface technology, inspired by the skin of sharks, is designed to reduce drag and improve fuel performance. ANA is the first airline to operate both passenger and freighter versions of the Boeing 777 with this cutting-edge enhancement.
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First Cargo Flight with AeroSHARK
The initial modified Boeing 777 Freighter (JA771F) commenced its scheduled cargo flights on September 2. ANA plans to extend AeroSHARK technology to its passenger aircraft (JA796A) by next spring. This move underscores ANA’s commitment to investing in technologies that reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions.
AeroSHARK, developed jointly by Lufthansa Technik and BASF, employs a functional surface film with riblets—microscopic ridges resembling those on shark skin. Lufthansa Technik has meticulously applied several hundred square meters of this riblet film to the fuselage of JA771F. The aircraft made its first AeroSHARK-optimized flight from Tokyo-Narita to Chicago-O’Hare on the day of its re-entry into service. Though the riblet modification is nearly invisible, it is anticipated to yield substantial fuel and emissions savings. Each Boeing 777F and 777-300ER equipped with AeroSHARK could achieve annual savings of approximately 250 metric tons of fuel and 800 metric tons of CO2.
ANA’s Commitment to Sustainability
Kohei Tsuji, ANA’s Executive Vice President of Engineering and Maintenance, highlighted the significance of this milestone: “The introduction of AeroSHARK technology on our Boeing 777 aircraft marks a significant milestone in our sustainability strategy, supporting our broader goal of reducing carbon emissions across our fleet. We are proud to be the first airline in the world to implement this technology on both passenger and freighter versions of the Boeing 777, reinforcing our commitment to excellence and a reduced carbon footprint.”
As ANA integrates AeroSHARK-equipped Boeing 777s into its operations, the airline will assess the technology’s effectiveness and plans to expand its use across additional aircraft of the same type. This initiative aligns with ANA’s medium- to long-term environmental strategy and the broader “ANA Future Promise” program, which aims to foster a sustainable society and promote ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management.
Lufthansa Technik’s Ongoing Commitment
Dennis Kohr, Senior Vice President of Corporate Sales Asia Pacific at Lufthansa Technik, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “Drawing inspiration from nature is deeply rooted in Japanese arts and culture. Therefore, what airline could be a better fit for our nature-inspired AeroSHARK than the world-famous ‘Inspiration of Japan’? We are delighted to extend our long-standing cooperation with All Nippon Airways to include this proven solution for reducing their carbon footprint. I am confident that AeroSHARK will support ANA in becoming an ever-greener ‘Inspiration of Japan’.”
Lufthansa Technik holds Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for AeroSHARK modifications on various Boeing 777 models, with approximately 20 long-haul aircraft already utilizing the technology. The adoption of AeroSHARK is expanding globally, and ongoing efforts by BASF and Lufthansa Technik aim to further develop the technology, potentially reducing CO2 emissions by up to 3 percent in its maximum expansion stage.
