Etihad Unveils McLaren Livery on 787 Ahead of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Etihad Airways has unveiled a Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring McLaren Racing's signature papaya orange livery ahead of the 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking the first time a Formula One team's branding has been applied to a wide-body commercial aircraft.

The aircraft combines McLaren's distinctive orange colour scheme with a mask surrounding the cockpit windows and Etihad's signature tail design.

The unveiling also set a Guinness World Record for the largest single-piece Kabuki reveal, a theatrical technique involving the dramatic dropping of a curtain to reveal an object.

The specially designed Dreamliner is scheduled to make its first commercial flight on November 10th, departing Abu Dhabi for Madrid as Flight EY103. It will also operate a return journey between Abu Dhabi and Jakarta in the coming days, before appearing on other routes across Etihad's international network, including destinations in Europe and Asia.

The aircraft celebrates the partnership between Etihad Airways and McLaren Racing, extending the airline's association with Formula One beyond the racetrack. Etihad has served as the title sponsor of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix since 2009.

The unveiling comes ahead of the Formula One season finale at Yas Marina Circuit, scheduled to take place from December 3rd to 6th, 2026. Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves also expressed interest in arranging a fly-by featuring the McLaren-branded aircraft during the race weekend, although no such appearance has been confirmed.