Etihad Airways has given a Boeing 787 Dreamliner a very eye-catching makeover. The aircraft now wears McLaren Racing’s papaya orange, and it is the first time a Formula One team’s branding has appeared on a wide-body aircraft.
Etihad Has A New Sporty Livery, And Here’s The Look
The first-ever Formula 1 team livery on a wide-body commercial aircraft has arrived.
Etihad and McLaren Racing have unveiled the first
Formula 1 team livery to appear on a wide-body commercial aircraft, transforming a Boeing 787 Dreamliner into a bold celebration of ambition.Flying across our global network, the aircraft will bring the partnership to fans around the world.
Read more: https://t.co/UCvjT4rbcy
— Etihad (@etihad) November 10, 2026
The livery pairs McLaren’s signature orange with a dark mask around the cockpit windows, while Etihad’s distinctive tail design stays in place. The jet was unveiled on Monday at Etihad Engineering’s site in Abu Dhabi, in front of Etihad chairman Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, Group CEO Antonoaldo Neves, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown and former F1 driver Mika Hakkinen.
The reveal made headlines too. Etihad said the ceremony set a Guinness World Record for the largest single-piece kabuki reveal, where a giant curtain drops to uncover the object.
Where It Will Fly
The Dreamliner was due to make its maiden flight on Tuesday 10 November, leaving for Madrid as flight EY103 at 2.15pm. The return journey will be between Abu Dhabi and Jakarta. Etihad says the aircraft will serve its international network, with Dublin, Milan, Vienna, Bali, Bangkok and Delhi among the destinations expected.
Why McLaren, And Why Now
The jet follows a partnership announced in February, which made Etihad an official partner of the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team and the McLaren United Autosports Hypercar Team for 2026 and beyond. Etihad’s branding also appears on the MCL40’s rear wing and halo, and on driver helmets.
The timing is deliberate. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix runs from 3 to 6 December and closes the 2026 season, and Etihad has been its title sponsor since 2009. Neves said his hope is to see both McLaren drivers on the podium, and that he would try to arrange a fly-by if possible. Brown joked that he is looking forward to asking rival teams where their plane is.
Also Read: Etihad Airways & Etihad Rail Plan Airport Shuttles And Unified Bookings For UAE Travel
How To Catch It
Check Before You Book
Etihad has not shared a day-by-day schedule, and aircraft assignments can change, so there is no guarantee of flying on it.
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Route and timing updates are most likely to appear there as race weekend approaches. If you are flying to or from any of the cities named above, it is worth checking your aircraft type once you have a booking, since the Dreamliner is only one jet in a much larger fleet, and aircraft swaps happen often.
Cover Image Courtesy: Etihad Airways/X
FAQs
What is the Etihad and McLaren partnership?
Announced in February 2026, it makes Etihad an official partner of the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team and the McLaren United Autosports Hypercar Team for 2026 and beyond. Etihad’s branding appears on the MCL40’s rear wing, halo and driver helmets. The airline has also been title sponsor of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009.
Where will the McLaren-liveried Etihad jet fly?
Its first scheduled flight was Abu Dhabi to Madrid as EY103, followed by a return trip between Abu Dhabi and Jakarta. Etihad says it will operate across its network, with Dublin, Milan, Vienna, Bali, Bangkok and Delhi among the destinations expected.
