Emirates is marking its role as the NBA’s Official Global Airline Partner with a custom aircraft design on one of its flagship A380 aircraft.
The special livery celebrates the upcoming 2024-25 NBA season. It also flags Emirates’ position as the first title sponsor of the Emirates NBA Cup. The airline deploys this customized widebody aircraft internationally next week. The aircraft will be serving routes throughout Emirates’ extensive global network.
A380 Custom NBA Design
The eye-catching design showcases aviation artistry, featuring a sophisticated deep blue gradient sweeping across the aircraft’s body. The iconic NBA logo dramatically highlights the striking body color.
The design team reimagined Emirates’ signature gold lettering in vibrant red, adding a bold touch. A playful basketball illustration dynamically bounces between the two prestigious brands’ logos. Bright red engine covers proudly displaying Emirates’ distinctive white calligraphy logo further enhance the aircraft’s appearance.
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Creating this special NBA-themed A380 was an ambitious undertaking that showcased Emirates’ technical expertise. The airline’s Engineering Aircraft Appearance Centre handled the entire project in-house, managing everything from initial design concepts to final installation.
The complete transformation required 24 intensive days of work, including meticulously stripping the old paint, carefully applying the new design, and precisely adding all graphic elements.
![An Emirates A380 in custom NBA livery.](https://aviationsourcenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GaK5OSGWoAElAZ7-1024x683.jpg)
Operating November 1-December 17
The basketball theme extends to the interior, creating an immersive experience throughout the entire journey. From November 1 through December 17, passengers flying to and from 14 key destinations across the U.S. and Canada will enjoy specially curated NBA-themed experiences.
This remarkable aircraft joins an exclusive group, being one of only four in Emirates’ vast fleet featuring complete custom designs from nose to tail.
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Interior Appointments
Inside the cabin, passengers will discover attention to detail at every turn. Each seat features co-branded headrest covers, while drinks are served on custom-designed coasters that capture the spirit of basketball.
The airline has developed special courtside-inspired menus across all cabin classes, including unique offerings at the A380’s prestigious Onboard Lounge.
Basketball enthusiasts won’t miss any action, as they can catch live Emirates NBA Cup games on Sport24 through the airline’s state-of-the-art ice entertainment system.
The basketball experience begins before takeoff, with exclusive NBA-themed menus available in Emirates lounges at Dubai, New York JFK, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Boston airports. These specially crafted menus combine classic sports fare with Emirates’ renowned luxury dining experience.
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NBA Cup Kickoff
“This partnership celebrates basketball’s extraordinary power to unite people globally,” says Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications, Marketing and Brand. “We’re thrilled to bring unique NBA experiences to customers across our network and connect with basketball fans worldwide through this innovative collaboration.”
The Emirates NBA Cup kicks off November 12 with two exciting TNT-broadcast games. New York Knicks face the Philadelphia 76ers at 7:30 p.m. ET. This is followed by an intense matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET. Teams will compete in four group games on designated “Cup Nights” (Tuesdays and Fridays) through December 3.
The tournament reaches its climax with high-stakes knockout rounds featuring eight qualifying teams. Quarterfinals will be played in team cities on December 10-11, leading to semi-finals on December 14. The championship game, promising to be a spectacular finale, takes place December 17 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.
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