EVA Air was the first airline in Asia to install AeroSHARK technology, developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF, which reduces air resistance and optimizes fuel consumption. The Taiwanese airline will equip its fleet of nine Boeing 777F freighters with the innovative Riblet films, which will cover the fuselage and engine nacelles.
EVA Air’s first cargo aircraft equipped with AeroSHARK technology was B-16786installed at Taipei Taoyuan International Airportled by Lufthansa Technik and operated by Evergreen Aviation Technologies Corporation (EGAT). The aircraft is scheduled to return to commercial service in early September.
By placing the AeroSHARK on EVA Air’s nine Boeing 777Fs, more than 2,500 tons of kerosene and more than 7,800 tons of carbon dioxide emissions will be saved annually.
“EVA Air is continuously working towards its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 by constantly seeking the latest technologies to reduce our carbon footprint. We are pleased to collaborate with Lufthansa Technik in applying the fuel-saving AeroSHARK surface technology to our 777F freighters. This innovation not only reduces fuel consumption but also CO2 emissions. EVA Air will continuously monitor actual fuel savings and continue to evaluate the possibility of equipping additional aircraft with this technology.” said Albert Liao, Executive Vice President of EVA Air’s Corporate Planning Division.
Lufthansa Technik currently holds a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the AeroSHARK modification of two Boeing 777 aircraft, which are already in service with several airlines worldwide. In addition to EVA Air’s first 777F equipped with AeroSHARK, this technology is already installed on several other aircraft, including Lufthansa Cargo’s 777Fs, SWISS’s 777-300ERs and soon Austrian Airlines’ 777-200ERs. EVA Air’s entire 777F fleet is expected to be equipped by 2027.
Additionally, Lufthansa Technik and BASF want to further develop AeroSHARK to help more airlines around the world achieve their sustainability goals. Current development priorities include the approval of additional aircraft types and the expansion of the areas. Preliminary model calculations show that AeroSHARK technology could avoid up to three percent of carbon dioxide emissions in its peak expansion phase.
