EVA Air: First Asian Airline to Adopt AeroSHARK Tech

DALLAS — Taiwanese airline EVA Air (BR) becomes the first carrier in Asia to implement AeroSHARK technology, the innovative fuel-saving solution developed by Lufthansa Technik in collaboration with BASF. 

The airline will equip its nine Boeing 777F cargo aircraft fleet with drag-reducing riblet films to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

The first BR aircraft, identified as B-16786, has already been modified with AeroSHARK at Taipei Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). The work is being carried out by the airline's affiliate, Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corporation (EGAT). According to BR, the modified aircraft will return to service in early September.

AeroSHARK technology mimics the structure of sharkskin, featuring tiny riblets that reduce the aircraft's frictional resistance. When applied to the fuselage and engine nacelles, these films can reduce fuel consumption by approximately one percent. 

For BR's fleet, this translates to annual savings of over 2,500 metric tons of kerosene and a reduction of more than 7,800 metric tons of CO2 emissions.

Albert Liao, EVA Air’s Executive Vice President of Corporate Planning, emphasized the airline's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

He expressed enthusiasm for the partnership with Lufthansa Technik, noting that adopting AeroSHARK technology cuts fuel consumption and contributes to the airline's ongoing efforts to minimize its environmental impact. 

At the start of the week, Lufthansa Technik announced its plans to implement the innovative AeroSHARK surface film on the Boeing 777-200ER variant. Four Austrian Airlines (OS) aircraft will be modified using this groundbreaking technology. This innovation utilizes riblets that mimic the friction-reducing properties found on shark skin.

Currently, the Lufthansa Group of airlines has equipped 17 aircraft with AeroSHARK. This includes a Lufthansa-operated Boeing 747-400, 12 SWISS-operated Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, and four Lufthansa Cargo-operated Boeing 777F cargo aircraft.

EVA Air plans to closely monitor the technology's fuel-saving benefits and may consider applying it to additional aircraft in the future.