Etihad Airways Debuts McLaren Racing Boeing 787 and Limited-Edition Loungewear
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Etihad Airways’ McLaren Racing-themed Boeing 787 Dreamliner completed its first flight from Abu Dhabi to Madrid on November 10, 2026, becoming the first widebody aircraft to feature a Formula 1 racing team’s livery. The aircraft features McLaren Racing’s signature papaya colors and will operate across Etihad’s global network. To celebrate the launch, Etihad introduced limited-edition McLaren Racing loungewear for passengers traveling in Business, First, and The Residence on longer flights.
Etihad Introduces Limited-Edition McLaren Racing Loungewear
The new loungewear collection brings the partnership to Etihad’s premium cabins. Passengers will initially receive the sets exclusively on the specially painted Dreamliner through November 18 before the airline expands the collection across its long-haul fleet until after the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.
Business Class passengers will receive a crew-neck design, while those traveling in First and The Residence will receive a zip-neck version. Both designs feature Etihad and McLaren Racing branding, along with details in the team’s signature papaya color.
The collection comes in sizes ranging from small to extra-large. Passengers can keep the loungewear after their flights as a souvenir.
Passengers on the inaugural flight, EY103 from Abu Dhabi to Madrid, received special gifts to celebrate the occasion. All travelers received commemorative Etihad and McLaren Racing cards and branded cookies, while Business Class passengers received additional gifts, including branded hats and cards signed by McLaren Racing drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
McLaren Racing Dreamliner Begins Flying Across Etihad’s Network
Before its flight to Madrid, Etihad unveiled the specially painted Boeing 787 Dreamliner at its engineering facility in Abu Dhabi. The event set a Guinness World Records title for the largest single-piece kabuki reveal, which involves dropping a large curtain to reveal an object.
Etihad Airways CEO Antonoaldo Neves commented on the aircraft’s debut. “This aircraft will proudly carry that story from our home in Abu Dhabi to cities around the world, bringing our partnership closer to fans wherever it flies and sharing the excitement of Formula 1 with people across our expanding global network,” Neves said.
The aircraft’s debut follows the partnership announcement earlier in 2026, when Etihad became an official partner of the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team and the McLaren Hypercar Team. The agreement covers the 2026 season and beyond.
As part of the partnership, Etihad branding appears on McLaren’s Formula 1 race cars, including the MCL40’s rear wing and halo, as well as the drivers’ helmets. The Dreamliner extends the partnership beyond the racetrack and into Etihad’s flight operations.
The partnership builds on Etihad’s existing relationship with Formula 1. The airline has served as the title sponsor of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009, with the 2026 race scheduled for December 3 to 6.