Lufthansa Group recently debuted an Airbus A319 as the first aircraft in the world to test the newest generation of AeroSHARK coating technology.

The A319 test aircraft is currently used by Lufthansa City Airlines, operating under the name “Starnberg” and registration D-ABGK0 without service disruption.

For the test, Lufthansa Technik is evaluating the performance of 70 transparent film patches applied on the A319 through February 2027, collaborating with Surventis (formerly known as BASF Coatings).

The film patches—each 20 x 20 centimeters large—are applied to the aircraft’s fuselage and engine cowlings, both on the inside and outside.

While AeroSHARK has been used on engine cowlings and fuselages already, these tests aim to optimize the next iteration of the material so it can be applied to wings and stabilizers that experience higher aerodynamic loads.

As the aircraft conducts regular operations between Hamburg and Munich, the new AeroSHARK patches will be monitored to inform future development of the technology.

One of Lufthansa Group’s primary goals is to identify broader applications for AeroSHARK to pursue reduced emissions and improved sustainability across air travel.

While passengers aboard the test aircraft won’t notice the nearly invisible patches, the A319 now features a welcome panel to inform travelers about AeroSHARK.

As of July 2026, the Lufthansa Group has already equipped 22 aircraft with AeroSHARK:

• SWISS’s fleet of twelve Boeing 777-300ERs
• Five Boeing 777Fs from Lufthansa Cargo
• Four Boeing 777-200ERs from Austrian Airlines
• One Boeing 747-400 from Lufthansa

Benefits of these applications are already clear, such as:

• Daily fuel savings of 19 metric tons
• Daily reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of 60 metric tons
• Increased efficiency of long-haul aircraft