Hello subscribers and welcome back to Simply Aviation! Today, we will be talking about Etihad's unique Livery!

After winning the UEFA Champions League, Manchester City is now the second English team, after Manchester United in 1999, to have won the treble (the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League). But before Manchester City can build on its triumph, it's time for the winners to leave Istanbul and return home to Manchester Airport - and sponsor Etihad Airways will be sending them with style.

The 'Man City’ Livery for Manchester City

In May 2009, Manchester City announced a partnership with Etihad Airways, and the club’s stadium was renamed Etihad Stadium. With this long-standing partnership, it's evident that the Abu Dhabi-based carrier will fly the squad whenever possible.

But when we said in style, it's primarily because Etihad Airways has one of its aircraft painted in a special livery to honor the prestigious cooperation, similar to what it did with a retired Airbus A330-200 until 2011. The current aircraft with the 'Manchester City FC' special livery is a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which sees the widebody painted in the club's distinctive sky blue color scheme from nose to tail.

Enroute to Manchester Airport

Despite the special livery, the plane has also been used for commercial passenger flight services - often operating from Abu Dhabi to long-haul destinations such as Vienna, Zurich, Brussels, Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt. The widebody is also used to transport Manchester City whenever required, such as taking the club home after the historic win at the Champions League.

The aircraft departed from Istanbul Airport at approximately 14:35 (EST) on Sunday and landed in Manchester at 18:07.

Given the high-profile passengers onboard and the unique, eye-catching livery of the aircraft, it's no surprise that the flight was standing at the podium as the most-tracked flight worldwide during that time, with more than 3,800 people tracking the flight's live movements. (According to FlightRadar24)

Back to Commercial Passenger Flights

Once flight to Manchester was completed, the job's not done for the 787. From Manchester Airport, the Boeing widebody welcomed standard revenue passengers onboard as it prepared to operate as flight EY30. The aircraft brought these passengers to Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad's hub.

After EY30, there are currently no further scheduled flights for the plane, so maybe Etihad Airways might be giving its blue-painted aircraft a quick break before continuing regular flight services to the many destinations it often flies.

And that is the end! Thanks for reading Simply Aviation and I will see you again next time!