Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has revealed a brand new livery featuring the colours and branding of its partner, Indian cricket giants the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
The aircraft, which is the first Airbus A320neo to be operated by a UAE carrier and 20% more fuel efficient than previous generation aircraft, will serve on Etihad’s short haul routes. The aircraft’s inaugural flight will take place in December to CSK’s home base in Chennai, India, delighting the millions of fans visiting and residing in the city.
Arik De, chief revenue and commercial officer, Etihad Airways, said: “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,” he added.
In February, Etihad became official sponsor of the Indian Premier League team, CSK, for the 2024 season, with a special ceremony launching the partnership held in Chennai and attended by thousands of fans. Etihad has since brought the partnership to life at matches with engaging fan experiences and activations, including distributing bespoke whistles in the shape of aircraft for fans to cheer on the players in the traditional CSK style ‘whistle podu’.
Etihad operates 181 flights per week to 11 Indian cities, connecting Indian guests to a wide range of destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America. In 2024, the airline launched new routes to Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, as well as the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur and added frequencies to key gateways of Mumbai and Delhi.
In September, Etihad celebrated 20 years of flying to India with a red-carpet event at the Ice Factory Bellard Estate, Mumbai, attended by Bollywood celebrities including Katrina Kaif, Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi among others.