ABU DHABI- Etihad Airways (EY) has unveiled a specially designed Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring the McLaren Racing Livery. The aircraft marks the first time a Formula 1 team has been featured on a wide-body commercial aircraft.
Revealed at Etihad Engineering in Abu Dhabi, the aircraft will operate across the airline’s international network from Zayed International Airport (AUH).
First for Formula 1 Branding on a Wide-Body Aircraft
The specially designed Boeing 787 Dreamliner represents a significant visual development in the partnership between Etihad Airways and McLaren Racing.
The aircraft features McLaren’s distinctive branding and signature papaya colour, transforming one of Etihad’s flagship wide-body aircraft into a flying representation of the motorsport team.
The collaboration creates one of the most prominent motorsport liveries ever carried by a commercial aircraft. It also gives passengers and Formula 1 fans a new way to connect with McLaren Racing beyond the racetrack.
Etihad highlighted the passenger experience as an important part of the unveiling, stating that guests boarding the specially branded Dreamliner would become part of Formula 1 history.
The aircraft will carry the partnership’s identity across international routes, giving the collaboration a presence beyond traditional motorsport venues and events.
The McLaren-branded Boeing 787 Dreamliner will operate across Etihad Airways’ extensive international network, connecting Abu Dhabi with destinations in several major travel and motorsport markets.
The airline identified Dublin, Milan, Vienna, Bali, Bangkok and Delhi among the destinations that the aircraft’s operations will connect with Abu Dhabi.
Etihad’s wider network also links the UAE capital with several important Formula 1 markets, including Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy and the United States.
As McLaren Racing competes internationally, Etihad’s route network provides connections between Abu Dhabi and many of the countries that host major motorsport events. The specially designed aircraft brings the airline’s aviation operations and McLaren’s racing identity together across these markets.
Guinness World Records for Aircraft Unveiling
Etihad Airways revealed the special aircraft livery at its Etihad Engineering facility in Abu Dhabi through a record-breaking presentation.
The event featured the largest single-piece kabuki reveal, a record independently verified by Guinness World Records. The unveiling added a record-setting element to the launch of the McLaren-branded aircraft.
The presentation marked an important milestone in the partnership, showcasing the specially designed Boeing 787 and the distinctive papaya identity that now represents the collaboration in the skies.
Etihad and McLaren Executives Highlight Partnership
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, described the aircraft as a reflection of the shared ambition, performance standards and forward-looking approach of both organisations.
He explained that the Dreamliner would carry the partnership’s story from Abu Dhabi to cities around the world, connecting Etihad and McLaren Racing with fans wherever the aircraft operates.
Neves also highlighted Formula 1’s ability to connect people across international borders and create excitement among audiences worldwide. He said the collaboration would provide opportunities to bring fans closer to the sport and create memorable experiences across Etihad’s growing global network.
Zak Brown, Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Racing, welcomed the aircraft unveiling as a distinctive way to bring the partnership to life.
Brown highlighted the importance of connecting two globally recognised brands through the aircraft’s design. He noted that the livery would bring McLaren Racing closer to Etihad customers and motorsport fans worldwide while giving the team’s trademark papaya identity a presence in the skies.
Etihad’s Official Partnership with McLaren Racing for 2026
The new aircraft livery is the latest development in the partnership between Etihad Airways and McLaren Racing, which was announced earlier in the year.
Under the agreement, Etihad serves as an Official Partner of the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team and the McLaren Hypercar Team for the 2026 season and beyond.
The partnership brings together two organisations operating in industries shaped by advanced technology, engineering, teamwork and high performance.
Commercial aviation and motorsport both depend on technical innovation, operational precision and coordinated teams. These shared characteristics form an important part of the relationship between Etihad and McLaren.
The collaboration also connects Etihad’s international aviation network with McLaren’s participation in global motorsport competitions, extending the partnership across both Formula 1 and endurance racing.
Etihad Branding Features
The partnership extends beyond the Boeing 787 aircraft through Etihad branding on the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team’s racing equipment.
The airline’s branding features prominently on the MCL40 Formula 1 car, including the rear wing and halo. Etihad branding also appears on the helmets worn by McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team drivers.
These placements provide a visible presence for the airline within the team’s Formula 1 activities and complement the McLaren-branded Dreamliner.
Together, the aircraft livery, racing car placements and driver helmet branding represent the partnership across commercial aviation and international motorsport.
Etihad’s Long-Standing Involvement
The McLaren Racing partnership builds on Etihad Airways’ long-standing association with Formula 1 and its involvement in international motorsport.
Since 2009, Etihad has served as the title sponsor of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The sponsorship has established a lasting connection between the airline, the emirate of Abu Dhabi and one of the world’s leading motorsport competitions.
Abu Dhabi is scheduled to host the 2026 Formula 1 season finale in December, continuing its position on the sport’s international calendar.
The McLaren partnership adds another element to Etihad’s motorsport involvement. Alongside its title sponsorship of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the airline’s collaboration with the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team and McLaren Hypercar Team extends its presence across different areas of international racing.
The specially branded Boeing 787 Dreamliner gives this relationship an additional presence in global aviation, carrying McLaren’s distinctive papaya identity across Etihad’s international network.
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