Emirates, the world’s largest airline as well as the Official Airline Partner and Principal Partner of the AC Milan soccer team based in Italy, has unveiled a striking new A380 special livery to mark the club’s 125th anniversary since it was first incorporated. The livery sees the airplane emblazoned with the club’s trademark colors of red and black, to “celebrate the Rossoneri’s 125 year-legacy of excellence and generational impact on global football,” says the airline.
Both sides of the Emirates A380’s fuselage are adorned with vibrant red and black stripes, inspired by the official AC Milan club colors. The team’s official badge, displaying Milan’s flag alongside the club’s ACM acronym and founding year, is displayed alongside a ‘Milan 125’ emblem. Flanking the design on the other side is the silhouette of a player in an AC Milan team jersey sporting the Emirates ‘Fly Better’ slogan kicking a football in mid-air. According to an Emirates statement, this image “symbolizes the spirit of ambition and innovation of the partnership between AC Milan and Emirates.”
AC Milan fans, as well as aviation enthusiasts located around the world, will have the opportunity to spot the special livery as it flies across the airline’s network starting on November 26, 2024. Emirates’ AC Milan 125th Anniversary A380 livery was fully designed, produced, and installed in-house by the Emirates Engineering Aircraft Appearance Centre teams located at Dubai International Airport (DXB).
The two partners have enjoyed a longstanding commercial partnership for almost 20 years. Emirates first signed a sponsorship agreement with AC Milan in September 2007. The following year, the relationship with the airline was elevated to Top Institutional Sponsor. The carrier’s jersey sponsorship deal first featured during the 2010/2011 season. Since then, Emirates has been visible on AC Milan jerseys during official matches and competitive fixtures, with “close to 1000 goals scored by players donning the airline’s shirt branding,” says the airline’s statement.
Adding to its statement about its newest A380 special livery, the airline said that, “Emirates’ special livery stands as a bold testament to AC Milan’s rich heritage and global influence as the Club celebrates its 125th anniversary. This unique collaboration not only honors the Rossoneri’s history but also symbolizes the enduring strength of a partnership rooted in shared values of innovation, tradition, and excellence.”
“Together, AC Milan and Emirates continue to inspire a new generation of fans, uniting the past, present, and future under one shared vision. Founded in 1899 in Milan, Italy, AC Milan is one of the most iconic and historic brands in global sports,” the airline concludes.
The club currently plays its home games at San Siro Stadium in Milan and is currently developing a new 70,000-seat stadium that is expected to become one of the most advanced modern sports and entertainment complexes in the world.