Etihad Airways has close ties to Manchester City FC. As well as having been the team's kit sponsor since 2009, the Abu Dhabi-based UAE flag carrier's name has also adorned its home ground, the Etihad Stadium, since 2011. In reflection of this longstanding partnership, two Etihad jets have had Manchester City liveries.

The original

The first of the carrier's aircraft to bear the Premier League champions' distinctive sky blue color scheme was an Airbus A330-200 registered as A6-EYE. According to data from ATDB.aero, this 2005-built twinjet had previously worn another sport-themed livery, namely one promoting Formula One's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, from May 2009.

The aircraft received its Manchester City-themed livery, as well as the name Blue Moon Rising, in July 2011. According to Etihad Airways, the reason for this was to celebrate the launch of a second daily service between Manchester Airport (MAN) and its Abu Dhabi International (AUH) hub. At the time of writing, the carrier's services on this corridor were typically operating just once a day.

A6-EYE, which could seat a total of 240 economy class (eight-abreast) and 22 business class (four-abreast) passengers, according to data from ch-aviation.com, kept this livery for the rest of its career. Etihad eventually withdrew the aircraft from service in December 2018, and it now finds itself in storage in Teruel, Spain.

Photo: TJDarmstadt via Wikimedia Commons

The successor

Just over eight years after repainting an existing aircraft in a Manchester City-themed livery, Etihad also chose to receive a brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in the club's colors. Registered as A6-BND, this modern twinjet was built at Boeing's factory in North Charleston, South Carolina, before being delivered in October 2019. Robin Kamark, Etihad's Chief Commercial Officer, stated at the time:

"As we celebrate a decade of this successful partnership, we are proud to see the Manchester City colors grace our runways and skies, as the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner takes flight. This livery pays tribute to the Club’s incredible accomplishments on and off the pitch."

Data from ch-aviation shows that, like the A330 before it, A6-BND has a two-class configuration. This layout accommodates 262 economy class passengers seated nine-abreast (3-3-3), as well as 28 lucky users of four-abreast (1-2-1) business class flatbeds. This gives the aircraft a total capacity of 290 passengers. As of April this year, it had amassed a total of 9,197 flight hours across 1,700 cycles.

Photo: Anna Zvereva via Flickr

Bringing the silverware to Manchester

Following Manchester City's first-ever Champions League win this summer, A6-BND brought the squad and the trophy to Manchester from Istanbul. City became only the second English team to achieve the treble with the feat, after Manchester United. Thus, this trip marked a historic occasion for the club!

A6-BND will be hoping to transport more trophies this season as the players look to defend their titles! That's if the widebody is deployed on the short journey from London, with 2024's Champions League final set to take place at Wembley Stadium.

Where does A6-BND fly?

For planespotters around the world, chances to see specially-liveried aircraft like A6-BND are always exciting. But where are you most likely to catch this sky-blue Boeing? Aside from Etihad's Abu Dhabi hub, FlightRadar24.com shows the plane has been busy flying to the likes of Shanghai, Hyderabad, London Heathrow, and Vienna over the last week.

However, over the years, the aircraft has been well-sotted in Phuket, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur. It has also been a regular on routes to Singapore, Zurich, Dublin, and Munich, making the unit a true globetrotter.

City aren't the only Premier League club to have their name on a UAE-based airline's aircraft. Arsenal famously lent their colors to An Emirates Airbus A380 in March 2019. However, the livery was removed in July 2019.

While Arsenal's livery didn't last so long, City's blue is still prevalent in the skies. It's not a surprise that Premier League clubs have a strong connection with Middle Eastern carriers' aircraft in recent times. After all, there is significant backing and links between English teams and Middle Eastern entities.

With Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund now owning most of Newcastle City, could we see the Geordie club's black and white plastered on a Saudia or Riyadh Air twinjet in the coming years?

What do you make of Etihad's partnership with Manchester City? Have you ever flown on one of its specially-livered aircraft? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Source: FlightRadar24.com; ATDB.aero; ch-aviation.com