Lufthansa Technik is in the final certification phase for AeroSHARK on Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft, with the first modification under way on a Discover Airlines A330. The long-haul jet is undergoing test flights over several weeks as part of a Supplemental Type Certificate application with EASA, opening the door for approval of the shark-skin-inspired drag-reduction film on Airbus widebodies for the first time.
The A330 is the next focus for the programme after certification on Boeing 777 variants, extending a retrofit line that Lufthansa Group has been expanding across its fleet. By August, 22 aircraft had already been fitted with AeroSHARK, indicating broader operational use rather than a one-off trial. Approval for the A330 would widen the programme beyond Boeing aircraft and could make the modification available to a much larger installed base, given the type’s role as the world’s second-most-delivered long-haul aircraft. The work is being carried out within Lufthansa Group, where Discover Airlines operates the initial test aircraft.