First aircraft with full-scale implementation of riblet film

ANA becomes the first airline in the world to begin operating Boeing 777 aircraft with "AeroSHARK"* film, a riblet film jointly developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF, on both cargo freighters (hereinafter "freighters") and passenger aircraft.

The Boeing 777 Freighter (JA771F) with "AeroSHARK" installed over a wide area of the fuselage will enter service for the first time on September 2, 2024 for scheduled cargo flights. The second aircraft (JA796A) is scheduled to enter service as a passenger aircraft on international routes next spring.

The ANA Group has set a long-term environmental target of net zero CO2 emissions from aircraft operations by FY2050. The introduction of this technology is expected to reduce the aerodynamic drag generated on the surface of the aircraft during operation, thereby reducing fuel consumption by approximately 250 tons and CO2 emissions by 800 tons per year. *

A riblet is a shape based on a shark skin motif. It is said that the surface of shark skin evolved to be rough in order to swim underwater, reducing frictional resistance in the water and allowing the shark to swim with less force.

By attaching a film that biomimics shark skin to the airframe, this technology makes it possible to reduce air resistance caused by air currents and increase energy efficiency.

Starting in October 2022, ANA has been sequentially operating special livery 'ANA Future Promise Jet/Prop' aircraft (two B787s and one DHC-8-400) under the theme of 'ANA Future Promise,' which aims to realize a more sustainable society. The riblet film, developed by Nikon Corporation (hereinafter 'Nikon') is partially installed on these aircraft on a test basis, and technical evaluations of durability, among other factors, are being conducted. In parallel, we will continue to explore the potential for applying Nikon's riblet film to a broader area of the aircraft.

This time, we have introduced the 'AeroSHARK' technology. Moving forward, we will accelerate efforts to improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions in ANA Group-owned aircraft.

"The "AeroSHARK" renovation project has finally entered into service with the cooperation of many people inside and outside the company, including Lufthansa Technik. We will continue to carefully monitor the effects of the modification and consider expanding the number of aircraft to which it can be applied. As an airline that emits a large amount of CO2 through its operations, we will continue to do what we can to reduce CO2 emissions as much as possible."