Etihad Airways has introduced limited-edition McLaren Racing loungewear for eligible passengers in Business, First and The Residence on longer flights. The airline launched the collection alongside a Boeing 787 Dreamliner painted in McLaren’s signature papaya colours. The aircraft made its commercial debut on 10 November 2026, flying from Abu Dhabi to Madrid as EY103.
The loungewear is initially exclusive to the McLaren-liveried aircraft through 18 November. Etihad plans to extend availability across its long-haul fleet after that date and continue the promotion beyond December’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. For travellers flying during the rollout, eligibility depends on the departure, cabin and stage of the promotion.
Madrid Flight Marks the Dreamliner’s Commercial Debut
Etihad unveiled the aircraft at its Abu Dhabi hangar and put it into commercial service within hours. Madrid became the first destination to receive the Dreamliner after the reveal. Etihad describes the design as the first racing-team livery to appear on a wide-body aircraft.
The airline expects to operate the jet across its international network. It has yet to publish a dedicated schedule for the aircraft, leaving future sightings dependent on where Etihad assigns it. The inaugural flight establishes Madrid’s place in the launch, while the jet may appear at other destinations as it enters regular service.
For aviation and motorsport fans, the livery is the most visible part of the partnership. For passengers interested in the clothing, the wider rollout will make the assigned aircraft less central to their plans. Once that phase begins, eligible travellers could receive the collection on other long-haul aircraft.
Inaugural Passengers Receive McLaren Keepsakes
Everyone travelling on the inaugural EY103 received a commemorative Etihad and McLaren Racing card and a branded cookie. Business Class passengers also received branded caps and autograph cards signed by McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
The gifts marked the Dreamliner’s first commercial journey. For passengers travelling later in the promotional period, the announced cabin offer centres on the separate loungewear collection. That distinction is useful for fans comparing flights around the Grand Prix, since the signed cards and caps were part of the Madrid launch.
Business, First and The Residence Get Different Designs
The collection features Etihad and McLaren Racing branding with papaya-coloured detailing. Eligible Business Class guests receive a crew-neck version. A zip-neck design is reserved for eligible passengers in First and The Residence. Both come in sizes small to extra-large, and recipients can keep the garments after the flight.
Etihad describes the release as a one-month promotion. The initial phase ties the collection to the McLaren Dreamliner, while the second phase is intended to reach eligible premium cabins on a wider range of long-haul services. Etihad has yet to identify the individual departures that will carry the collection after the initial phase.
That timetable gives travellers two details to check. Anyone hoping to fly on the painted 787 needs to confirm the aircraft assigned to the departure. A guest interested primarily in the clothing can check whether their cabin and flight qualify during the wider release. Those details can vary between outbound and return flights.
Grand Prix Build-Up Extends From the Circuit to the Cabin
The launch comes as Abu Dhabi prepares for the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December. The Dreamliner carries the team’s colours to airports outside the UAE, while the onboard collection gives some long-haul passengers a direct connection to the race build-up during their journey.
For visitors planning a Grand Prix trip, the timing of the promotion matters alongside flight availability and accommodation dates. An inbound flight before the race and a return afterwards may fall at different points in the rollout. Etihad’s plan to continue the release beyond the Grand Prix gives some departing visitors another opportunity to receive the collection.
For travel advisers, the product details are most relevant when a client asks for a particular aircraft or cabin experience. The published rollout gives them a starting point, but the airline has yet to identify every qualifying departure. Passengers booking specifically for the livery or the clothing should confirm the details for their flight before choosing a fare.
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