Etihad Airways has unveiled its new livery in celebration of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as it launched its inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi to Chennai, India. The aircraft, which is the first Airbus A320-neo operated by a UAE carrier, landed in Chennai at 2:55 PM local time and was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute. Three of CSK's newest team members—Gurjapneet Singh, Rahul Tripathi, and Vijay Shankar—greeted the aircraft upon its arrival in Chennai and made a special welcome announcement for the guests. During the flight, guests were pleasantly surprised with sweet treats that celebrated the CSK partnership. Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “It"s perfectly fitting that the first flight of this unique aircraft livery is to the Chennai Super Kings" home in Chennai, delighting the millions of fans residing in the city. “Through this special livery, we are pleased to celebrate our partnership with CSK and demonstrate Etihad"s long-term commitment to the Indian market.” Throughout the year, the partnership between Etihad and CSK has been brought to life through a series of engaging fan experiences. One of the highlights has been the distribution of unique whistles shaped like aircraft, allowing CSK fans to cheer for their team in the signature "Whistle Podu" style. These activities have taken place at numerous matches, bringing fans closer to the action and enhancing Etihad's presence in the Indian sporting community. The partnership continues to grow, with more news expected for the 2025 season. Connecting Indian Travellers The CSK livery will predominantly connect Abu Dhabi to various destinations in India and across Etihad"s short-haul network. Etihad operates 181 weekly flights to 11 Indian cities, connecting Indian guests to various destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America. In 2024, the airline launched new routes to Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and the "pink city" of Jaipur and added frequencies to key gateways of Mumbai and Delhi. As Etihad expands its global network, more guests from Indian cities are taking advantage of Etihad"s free stopover promotion. Travellers booking flights directly on Etihad.com can enjoy a complimentary hotel stay for one or two nights at a selection of premier hotels across the city as they transit through Etihad"s world-leading hub at Zayed International Airport. Etihad"s Special Liveries Etihad"s fleet includes several special liveries that carry the brands of its global partners to destinations far and wide. These include the iconic true-blue livery of the Manchester City FC-themed Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix-themed aircraft, which celebrates the last Formula 1 race of the season. In July, Etihad unveiled a Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi livery featuring the famous DC Superheroes and Looney Tunes characters. Earlier in the year, the airline unveiled a unique 20th anniversary livery on an Airbus A321neo which features a line-art drawing of the famous landmarks of the Abu Dhabi skyline. With a passion for creativity and a commitment to creating enjoyable customer experiences, Etihad will unveil additional bespoke livery designs in 2025.