Emirates Showcases Fourth Rugby World Cup Livery on Airbus A380

For the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Emirates has introduced a brand-new unique livery. A6-EOE is the registration number of the Airbus A380 carrying the livery.

The 2023 Rugby World Cup is scheduled to take place in France, and Emirates is fostering excitement with its newest special livery as fans count down the days until then. Since 2007, the airline has sponsored the Rugby World Cup, and since 2011, it has been a global partner. The livery for this year was created internally and “was inspired by the fast-running lines of the backs, evident in the delicate lines that run seamlessly through the new livery.”

Emirates has created a Rugby World Cup livery four times, with the first being in 2011. The airline’s flagship A380 aircraft featured the inaugural livery. When A6-EDN debuted Emirates’ inaugural Rugby World Cup livery, it was a brand-new aircraft. More than 40 destinations were served by the A380, including flights to France (a semifinalist in 2011), Australia (a semi-finalist), and other rugby-playing nations including the US and Hong Kong.

The first Emirates Airbus A380 to be scrapped in 2015 was painted with the second rugby livery and registered as A6-EDA. A6-EDA flew in the unique livery to the host country, England, as well as 21 other locations, including Brisbane, New York JFK, Manchester, and Sydney. In November 2021, A6-EDA was decommissioned at Dubai World Central Airport after thirteen years of service with the airline.

Four years ago, the tournament was staged in Japan, and Emirates introduced a livery on A6-EEU. Emirates sent the plane to Kansai International Airport four times and Tokyo Narita (NRT) nine times in that year. Additionally, it flew to locations in New Zealand, Europe, Asia, and the United States. Currently flying the Destination Dubai livery, which was previously painted for the Dubai World Expo, A6-EEU is no stranger to unique liveries.

Emirates said, “Emirates is proud to be associated with Rugby World Cup, and its efforts to especially deck out a flagship A380 aircraft to generate awareness and excitement for the tournament reflect its passion and steadfast support for the sport.”

Two months ago, Emirates unveiled its first livery overhaul in more than 20 years. The same aircraft, A6-EOE, which is now sporting the livery for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, will be the first to sport the new livery. An eight-year-old Airbus A380 with the manufacturer serial number 169 is known as A6-EOE. Today, the plane flew from Dubai International Airport to Istanbul Airport straight from the paint shop.

The first flight to use the new livery was EK123, which had a 10:45 local time departure from Dubai. Flightradar24 reports that despite the delay, the airplane took off at 11:29. Even with the delay, the flight only arrived 25 minutes after its scheduled arrival after traveling for four hours and seventeen minutes. The aircraft made a U-turn and headed back to Dubai after spending just over two hours on the ground in Istanbul. EK124, the return flight, was supposed to leave at 16:25 local time, however, it didn’t leave until 16:56. Despite the delay, it arrived in Dubai two minutes earlier than expected.