All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan's largest airline, said it will be the first company in Asia to use AeroSHARK film, a fuel-saving riblet film developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF, on its Boeing 777 passenger aircraft.
ANA will be the first airline worldwide to use Boeing 777 riblet technology on both cargo and passenger aircraft.
A Boeing 777-300ER featuring the innovation will enter commercial service with ANA on April 26.
ANA said the AeroSHARK film, inspired by the structure of shark skin, reduces frictional resistance, decreases fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. ANA has verified this effect since the first aircraft entered service and has confirmed the technology reduces consumption and emissions by approximately 1%.
"The implementation of the AeroSHARK technology on more ANA aircraft represents our ongoing commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and improve operational efficiency," said Kohei Tsuji, executive vice president, engineering and maintenance centre at ANA.
"This innovative technology is building a more sustainable future for ANA and the aviation industry," he added.
Joern Dahmen, senior director of special engineering services at Lufthansa Technik, noted that ANA's implementation of AeroSHARK on both freighter and passenger aircraft highlights the potential of retrofitting existing fleets to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
"We are proud to support ANA in their efforts to enhance operational efficiency and contribute to more sustainable aviation," Dahmen said.
The announcement noted that, since riblet technology will be used on passenger aircraft, promotional decals would be applied to the door area and sample products would be installed on board, allowing customers to touch and feel the riblet technology directly.
ANA said it will continue to expand this technology to other aircraft of the same type to achieve the ANA Group's medium- to long-term environmental goals.
Lufthansa Technik currently holds Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for the AeroSHARK modification of various types of Boeing 777, which is now being adopted by various airlines across the globe.
The announcement said approximately 28 long-haul aircraft are already operating with the technology in worldwide service, and this number is growing steadily.
BASF and Lufthansa Technik continue to develop AeroSHARK, aiming to make it accessible to more airlines. Current efforts focus on expanding approvals for additional aircraft types and increasing the surface area covered.