LATAM Airlines Brazil has successfully completed the application of the film AeroSHARK da Lufthansa Technology on a Boeing 777, increasing fuel efficiency. This is the first application of the technology on an airline in the Americas. On October 3, 2024, Lufthansa Technology announced that four more Boeing LATAM 777s will also receive the film, totaling five aircraft.
LATAM installed the innovative film in its first Boeing 777-300ER in São Paulo, in December 2023, generating a reduction of approximately 1% in fuel consumption.
O AeroSHARK, the result of collaboration between BASF and Lufthansa Technology, is a surface coating that simulates the structure of shark skin, featuring ribs of around 50 micrometers to optimize airflow.
“Our fleet modernization strategy is a key pillar of our commitment to sustainability and our vision to achieve net zero by 2050. We remain focused on innovation and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, ensuring that our fleet evolves in line with our environmental goals.”, said LATAM's Fleet and Projects Director Airlines Group, Sebastian Acuto.
The application of hundreds of square meters of film AeroSHARK in the fuselage and engine nacelles of aircraft reduces drag, reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. When the five Boeing If LATAM's 777-300ERs are equipped with the technology, the company could save 2.000 metric tons of fuel and 6.000 metric tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to 28 flights from São Paulo to Miami in one year. Boeing 777.
“LATAM’s decision confirms once again that AeroSHARK works. It further encourages us to use our engineering skills and innovative strength to contribute to lower CO₂ aviation. We look forward to collaborating with more customers globally and applying our fuel-saving sharkskin technology to even more aircraft.”, said Senior Sales Director at Lufthansa Technology in Latin America and the Caribbean, Robin Johansson.
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