From race track to runway: Etihad unveils McLaren-branded Dreamliner

Etihad Airways unveiled a Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring McLaren Racing’s papaya livery, marking a first for a Formula 1 brand on a wide-body commercial aircraft. The event took place at Etihad Engineering’s facility in Abu Dhabi.

The aircraft carries McLaren’s distinctive branding and papaya colors and is planned to operate across Etihad’s international network, linking Abu Dhabi with destinations such as Dublin, Milan, Vienna, Bali, Bangkok and Delhi. The maiden flight is scheduled to depart for Madrid on Tuesday.

Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa Al Hammadi, chairman of Etihad Aviation Group, described the unveiling as a moment of pride and drew parallels between Formula 1 and aviation in terms of teamwork, preparation and continuous improvement. He framed the partnership as a shared ambition between two leading brands.

McLaren Racing’s CEO Zak Brown welcomed the collaboration, highlighting that the liveried Dreamliner brings the two brands to a global audience and that fans will see the papaya branding in the sky. Etihad’s CEO Antonoaldo Neves emphasized bringing the partnership’s identity from Abu Dhabi to cities worldwide and engaging Formula 1 fans along Etihad’s expanding network.

The event also featured a Guinness World Records title for the largest single-piece kabuki reveal, independently verified by the organization. The partnership between Etihad and McLaren was announced earlier this year and includes formal sponsorships with McLaren’s Formula 1 and hypercar programs for the 2026 season and beyond.