TAP Air Portugal has begun rolling out a new ultra‑thin aircraft basecoat that reduces aircraft weight and delivers measurable fuel and emissions savings.
After testing AkzoNobel’s Aerobase UPD coating on two A320s, TAP recorded weight reductions of up to 26 kg per aircraft and confirmed the system will now be adopted fleetwide.
The single‑coat technology cuts basecoat thickness by more than a third while maintaining durability, allowing TAP to remove an entire painting cycle and streamline maintenance. According to the airline, full implementation is expected to save around 428 tonnes of fuel and reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 1,300 tonnes annually.
TAP engineers say the results show how small, consistent weight reductions can generate meaningful long‑term environmental and cost benefits. AkzoNobel added that incremental improvements in coating technology can help operators meet sustainability targets without compromising finish quality.
