LATAM extends AeroSHARK use across its entire Boeing 777 fleet

09 February 2026

- Five additional 777-300ERs to save one percent fuel and emissions through smart drag-reduction.

- Second airline in the world to operate an entire subfleet of sharkskin-modified aircraft.

Santiago, Chile, February 9, 2026 – LATAM Airlines Group, the first airline outside of the Lufthansa Group using AeroSHARK to save fuel and reduce emissions, has now opted to equip even more of its aircraft with the nature-inspired drag-reduction solution jointly developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF Coatings. The recently extended contract between the airline and the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) provider now encompasses the delivery of another five AeroSHARK shipsets to subsequently retrofit the remainder of LATAM’s ten-aircraft-strong Boeing 777-300ER fleet.By the end of 2025, half of LATAM’s 777-300ER fleet had already entered operation with AeroSHARK, with the final aircraft modification expected in 2027.

The South-American airline has been a pioneer in utilizing the beneficial properties of AeroSHARK’s innovative riblet films. Its first aircraft was almost secretly modified in December 2023 to thoroughly put AeroSHARK to the test even before publicly announcing the application. When this first aircraft successfully validated the promised one percent fuel and emissions reduction in day-by-day airline operations over almost one year, LATAM ordered four additional shipsets in 2024. The five shipsets from the recent top-up will finally bring the airline’s AeroSHARK order tally to ten. Once all the respective aircraft have been modified in 2027, LATAM will become the second airline in the world to operate an entire subfleet with sharkskin-equipped aircraft.

“Expanding the use of AeroSHARK across our entire Boeing 777-300ER fleet is a clear example of how LATAM combines innovation, operational efficiency and sustainability in very concrete actions. The proven results achieved with the first aircraft give us the confidence to scale this solution, reducing fuel consumption and emissions while maintaining the highest operational standards. This initiative is fully aligned with our long-term strategy to operate a more efficient and sustainable fleet, said Nicolas Seitz, Head of Fleet and Projects at LATAM Airlines Group

“I don’t know to what extent sharks are native to Latin American waters, but it feels like they are becoming more and more native to Latin American skies. And that’s because of LATAM’s pioneering spirit and our innovative, nature-inspired technology,” said Petra Lahme, Head of Product Sales for Lufthansa Technik’s Original Equipment Innovation branch. “Therefore, I’d like to thank our valued customer for their renewed trust in AeroSHARK and I eagerly look forward to complete the modification of LATAM’s 777 fleet in the next two years.”

AeroSHARK is a functional surface film that replicates the flow-optimized structure of sharkskin. It features small longitudinal protrusions measuring about 50 micrometers, so-called riblets, which are precisely oriented along the airflow. In the current expansion stage, these riblets cover almost the entire fuselage and engine nacelles of the Boeing 777, around 950 square meters on its -300ER variant. Once LATAM’s entire Boeing 777 fleet is modified this way, the proven one percent drag-reduction will enable the airline to leverage annual savings of up to 4,000 metric tons of jetfuel and 12,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions. This is equivalent to around 56 scheduled flights from São Paulo to Miami on a Boeing 777.

As the goal is to support as many airlines as possible in achieving their sustainability goals, Lufthansa Technik and BASF are consistently developing AeroSHARK further. One current area of development focuses on obtaining supplemental type certification for more and more aircraft types beyond the current lineup of Boeing 777-200ER, 777-300ER, 777F and 747-400. For 2026, Lufthansa Technik has already announced to introduce the first AeroSHARK modification for an Airbus type, namely the A330ceo. Another aim is to modify even larger areas on the aircraft to leverage even greater savings. For a maximum expansion stage of the AeroSHARK technology, initial calculations even hint at a realistic savings potential between 2 and 3 percent.

ABOUT LATAM GROUP

LATAM Airlines Group S.A. and its subsidiaries are the leading airline group in Latin America, with presence in five domestic markets in the region: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, in addition to international operations within Latin America and to Europe, Oceania, Africa, the United States and the Caribbean.

The group has a fleet of Boeing 767, 777, 787, Airbus A321, A321neo A320, A320neo and A319 aircraft. LATAM Cargo Group, LATAM Cargo Colombia and LATAM Cargo Brazil are the LATAM group’s cargo subsidiaries,In addition to having access to the bellies of the passenger affiliates' aircraft, they have a fleet of 20 freighters. These cargo subsidiaries have access to the group's passenger aircraft, and operate within the LATAM group network, as well as on exclusive international routes for cargo transportation. In addition, they offer a modern infrastructure and a wide variety of services and support options to meet the needs of its customers.

ABOUT LUFTHANSA TECHNIK

The Lufthansa Technik Group is one of the leading providers of technical aircraft services in the world. Certified internationally as maintenance, production and design organization, the company employs more than 22,000 people in dozens of locations around the globe. Lufthansa Technik offers the full range of services for commercial, VIP and special mission aircraft. The portfolio includes maintenance, repair, overhaul and modification of airframes, engines, components and landing gears, as well as the manufacture of innovative cabin products and digital fleet support.

More financial information is available at www.latamairlinesgroup.net

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Press contact:

Maria Sánchez

Public Relations Coordinator for LATAM Airlines in Europe

+34 91 540 18 05

latam.airlines@hopscotch.one

Hopscotch Tourism Spain

C/ Cardenal Cisneros 51, Madrid, 28010

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