DUBAI- Last week was a thrilling one for Middle Eastern carriers, with exciting sports milestones achieved by Emirates (EK), Qatar Airways (QR), and Etihad (EY).
Etihad revealed its Chennai Super Kings livery for IPL 2025, while Emirates celebrated the 53rd UAE National Day with a stunning A380 flypast over Dubai’s Sevens Stadium, delighting sports fans. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways announced Novak Djokovic as their new Global Brand Ambassador and Wellness Advisor.
Middle East Sports Spirit
Let us begin with the Emirates
Emirates A380 Flypast Over Sevens Stadium
Emirates executed a memorable low-level flypast over the Sevens Stadium during the 53rd UAE National Day celebrations, marking a significant moment at the Emirates Dubai 7s tournament. The iconic A380 conducted two precise passes above the stadium at 15:42 and 15:47 hours, flying at approximately 500 feet altitude.
UAE National Captain Khalid Binsultan and Captain Mubarak Al Mheiri commanded the aircraft, supported by Captain Abdalla Al Hammadi. The flypast drew enthusiastic responses from thousands of sports fans and families, who captured videos and photographs of the spectacular aerial display.
The 2024 Emirates Dubai 7s tournament ran from November 29 to December 1, featuring a comprehensive event lineup including international athletes, global artists, and diverse sporting competitions. The event encompassed rugby, netball, cricket, and fitness competitions, catering to a wide range of audiences from sports enthusiasts to families and music lovers.
Emirates Skywards members experienced additional benefits during the event, with opportunities to earn miles across 35 food and beverage outlets. A promotional campaign offered participants a chance to win 250,000 Skywards Miles by spending at designated tournament venues.
Qatar Airways Novak Djokovic
Qatar Airways has appointed Novak Djokovic as its Global Brand Ambassador and Official Airline Partner, bridging elite sports performance with aviation excellence. The multi-year collaboration was unveiled at the Altitude Wellness Centre, symbolically highlighting shared values of peak performance and global achievement.
As the World’s Best Airline in 2024, Qatar Airways strategically aligns with Djokovic, a tennis legend with 24 Grand Slam titles and a 2024 Paris Olympics gold medal. The partnership celebrates Djokovic’s unprecedented athletic achievements and global influence.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, emphasized the strategic alignment, stating
We are thrilled to welcome Novak Djokovic to the Qatar Airways family. Novak’s extraordinary career, defined by record-breaking achievements and an unrelenting drive to succeed, mirrors our own commitment to excellence. Our global network will support Novak as he competes at the highest level in tournaments around the world and continues to set new standards in the sport of tennis. Novak truly personifies the ambitious drive for excellence, making the tennis legend the perfect choice as our Global Brand Ambassador and Wellness Advisor.”
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer
Djokovic expressed enthusiasm about partnering with Qatar Airways, highlighting the airline’s exceptional service and commitment to wellness.
It is my great pleasure and honour to partner with Qatar Airways, a company I admire for many years not just for its impeccable service to its customers and employees, but also because it recognises the importance of wellbeing and longevity which is a passion of mine. I believe that together we will be able to add more value and quality to the award-winning experience for the customers worldwide. As I continue to travel the world as a professional athlete, with my family and for business, I am grateful to have Qatar Airways as my partner.”
Qatar Airways Global Brand Ambassador and Wellness Advisor, Novak Djokovic
Qatar Airways will integrate Djokovic’s expertise into its global sports partnership portfolio, which already includes significant engagements with FIFA, Formula 1, UEFA, and multiple international sports organizations.
Etihad Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Livery
Etihad Airways has launched a distinctive livery featuring the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) cricket team’s colors on its first Airbus A320neo aircraft.
The new aircraft, 20% more fuel-efficient than previous generation models, will operate on short-haul routes with its inaugural flight scheduled to Chennai, India in December.
Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways, emphasized,
We are delighted to once again demonstrate our commitment to the Indian market and celebrate our partnership with CSK with this stunning new livery in the bold yellow and blue colours of the Chennai Super Kings. We are incredibly proud of our partnership with CSK and the joy that cricket brings to so many people around the world.
With our rapidly expanding global network, we are able to showcase the CSK special livery to millions of people in destinations wide and far, and bring more fans globally to the game we love and enjoy.”
Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer at Etihad Airways
The partnership, formalized in February 2024 as CSK’s official sponsor for the season, has already generated significant fan engagement. Etihad has implemented innovative fan experiences, including distributing custom aircraft-shaped whistles for supporters to use during matches in the traditional “whistle podu” style.
Expanding Indian Network
Etihad Airways has solidified its strategic presence in the Indian market, operating 181 weekly flights to 11 Indian cities. In 2024, the airline expanded its network by introducing new routes to Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, and Jaipur, while increasing frequencies to Mumbai and Delhi.
The airline celebrated its 20-year milestone in India with a prestigious red-carpet event in Mumbai, attended by prominent Bollywood celebrities including Katrina Kaif, Neha Dhupia, and Angad Bedi. This event underscored Etihad’s long-standing commitment to the Indian market.
Beyond its standard livery, Etihad has developed a portfolio of special aircraft designs that showcase its global partnerships. These include liveries featuring Manchester City FC, the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi with DC Superheroes and Looney Tunes characters, and a 20th-anniversary Airbus A321neo displaying Abu Dhabi’s skyline in line art.
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