Vueling first to test “shark skin” technology to reduce emissions

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Vueling, one of Europe’s leading low-cost airlines, has announced that it has signed a Letter of Intent with Australian aerospace technology company MicroTau to become the airline’s first customer in Europe and to support the certification of the Riblet Modification Package with “shark skin” technology, so that it can be used on its fleet of narrow-body aircraft in the future. This collaboration is part of Vueling’s broader strategy to reduce emissions and environmental impact.

MicroTau is an Australian aerospace technology company focused on improving the efficiency of the global airline fleet through its shark skin-inspired Riblet Modification Package. The company offers a complete solution for this technology, helping customers reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

MicroTau’s Riblet Modification Package with shark skin technology is an innovative film that mimics the microscopic texture of shark skin and is applied to the external surface of the aircraft to improve aerodynamic performance, potentially reducing carbon emissions by up to 4%*.

Although shark skin appears smooth, it is actually covered in microscopic grooves called “riblets,” which reduce the animal’s drag as it swims. Inspired by nature, MicroTau’s Riblet Modification Package applies the same principles of fluid dynamics to the outer skin of aircraft, reducing drag without structural modifications.

“The possibility of implementing MicroTau’s cutting-edge technology on our aircraft, once certified, will represent a fundamental step in Vueling’s journey towards sustainable aviation”

– comments Franc Sanmartí, Director of Sustainability at Vueling –

“This innovation not only supports our goal of improving fuel efficiency, but also reinforces our commitment to reducing CO₂ emissions through cutting-edge solutions. Our collaboration with MicroTau will be an important part of achieving our short- and long-term sustainability goals as we work to reduce the environmental impact of our operations towards a more sustainable future for the aviation industry.”

-Henry Bilinsky, CEO of MicroTau, said that

“Efficiency is hard to achieve in the aviation industry as most decarbonisation solutions are still far away or costly. MicroTau is fully focused on offering a complete solution to reduce emissions and save on operating costs and it is great to have Vueling on board as a customer and key partner to make this possible.”

This initiative is just one element of Vueling’s sustainability strategy and highlights its commitment to adopting solutions that generate real change. Among the actions already underway: the use of sustainable fuels (SAF), the optimisation of flight routes to reduce emissions and the reduction of aircraft weight, key elements of the company’s sustainability plan.