# low-drag aircraft surfaces Lufthansa Technik Expands AeroSHARK Use on Its Discover A330-300 By Adam Harrie | Written with AI assistance | Published 2026-09-28 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/low-drag-aircraft-surfaces References: [newatlas](https://newatlas.com/aircraft/lufthansa-bionic-shark-skins) & [lufthansagroup](https://www.lufthansagroup.com/en/themes/aeroshark.html)  Lufthansa Technik is expanding the use of low-drag aircraft surfaces with 'AeroSHARK' after receiving European Union Aviation Safety Agency approval for use on a Discover Airbus A330-300. That clearance allows the airline to apply the film to another aircraft family to reduce drag and improve fuel burn on long-haul trips. The polymer layer replicates the ridged texture of shark skin with embossed 50-micrometer grooves, helping keep small vortices off the fuselage so airflow remains steadier. It reduces fuel use and emissions by about 1% per flight, with gains reaching 2% when the film also covers the wings and tail surfaces. For airlines, this means an efficiency retrofit that does not require a new aircraft design. A surface treatment already in use on Lufthansa Group Boeing 777s can now be applied across a wider long-haul aircraft family, giving carriers another way to pursue operating and emissions cuts on existing jets. Image Credit: Lufthansa ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 7.4/10 - Popularity: 56% | Activity: 67% | Freshness: 99% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) > [Transportation](https://www.trendhunter.com/transportation) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Biomimetic Aircraft Coatings:** Shark-skin-inspired surface films introduce measurable efficiency gains through aerodynamic texture changes that can be retrofitted onto existing aircraft fleets. - **Retrofit Sustainability Upgrades:** Incremental aircraft modifications are creating lower-cost pathways for emissions reduction without requiring full fleet replacement or new airframe designs. - **Fuel-efficient Long-haul Aviation:** Small drag reductions on wide-body aircraft are becoming commercially meaningful as airlines seek operational savings across high-frequency intercontinental routes. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Commercial Aviation:** Airlines gain new options for reducing fuel burn and emissions through certified surface technologies applied to in-service aircraft. - **Aerospace Materials:** Advanced polymer films with micro-structured textures are expanding the role of specialty materials in performance-focused aircraft retrofits. - **Aircraft Maintenance:** Maintenance and retrofit providers can capture value by integrating aerodynamic efficiency upgrades into scheduled service programs. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [High-Performance Gaming Mouses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/attack-shark.md) - [Ultra-Efficient Hybrid Airplanes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hybrid-aircraft-concept.md) - [Overhead Bin Retrofit Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mechanical-lift-system.md) - [Hydrogen-Electric Cooling Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/universal-cooling-system.md)