Etihad Airways’ McLaren Racing-themed Boeing 787 Dreamliner made its first passenger flight from Abu Dhabi to Madrid on November 10, hours after the aircraft was unveiled at an event in the UAE capital, the airline said in a press release.

Flight EY103 marked the start of the aircraft’s service across Etihad’s global network, the airline said. It said the livery is the world’s first racing team livery on a wide-body aircraft. The airline described the unveiling, held at its Abu Dhabi hangar, as a world-record-breaking event but did not give details of the record.

Passengers on the inaugural flight received commemorative Etihad and McLaren Racing cards and branded cookies, the airline said. Business class passengers also received branded caps and cards signed by McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Etihad said the launch comes as Abu Dhabi prepares to host the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It described the aircraft as one of the first visible results of its partnership with McLaren Racing, which now extends from the livery to the onboard experience.

To mark the aircraft’s entry into service, Etihad has released a limited-edition collection of co-branded Etihad and McLaren loungewear for passengers in Business, First and The Residence on longer routes, the release said.

Business passengers will receive a crew-neck design, while those in First and The Residence will get a zip-neck version. Both carry Etihad and McLaren Racing branding with details in McLaren’s papaya colour. The sets come in sizes S to XL, and passengers can keep them after the flight, the airline said.

The loungewear will be offered for one month, initially only on the McLaren-liveried aircraft until November 18, Etihad said. It will then be extended across the long-haul fleet until after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.

Source: PR