Emirates installs Expo 2020 Dubai livery on 40 aircraft

Emirates has completed the installation of Expo 2020 Dubai liveries on 40 aircraft, with its final A380 aircraft emblazoned in the distinctive orange ‘opportunity’ decal rolling out of the Emirates Engineering hangar.

The first decal was unveiled in 2017 on an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft decorated in the blue ‘mobility’ decal.

Since then, Emirates’ mini-fleet of Expo 2020 Dubai aircraft have collectively flown to 134 destinations across the airline’s global network, travelling 66 million kilometres on over 15,000 flights, amplifying the message of Expo across borders.

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, commented on completion of the unique Expo 2020 liveries: “As we begin to gear up for Expo 2020 Dubai, we are proactively tapping into the power of Emirates’ network to spread awareness and capture the world’s attention around the themes of this global event with our mobility, opportunity and sustainability liveries. Connectivity is the lynchpin that brings together new ideas, fosters global dialogue, and helps us navigate through change.

“Emirates will play a key role in opening up opportunities for visitors to experience this truly global event, as it offers non-stop flights to Dubai from many of the Expo participating countries, and 70% of the 25 million people targeted to visit Expo 2020 are expected to utilise air transport.”

Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director-General of Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, said: “With less than a year and half left until Expo 2020 opens its doors and welcome millions of visitors from around the world, we are very proud that our Premier Partner, Emirates Airline, is carrying our message around world through its incredible destination network.”

“Emirates’ aircraft carry more than just the colours of our sub-themes of Sustainability, Opportunity, and Mobility. They also carry the UAE’s message of the power of international cooperation to chart a better future for all, exemplified by an Expo that unites 190 countries and millions of visitors here in Dubai.”

The source of inspiration for the Expo 2020 Dubai decals was the event’s logo, based on a 4,000 year old ring excavated at an archaeological site in Dubai. The aircraft decals are comprised of circles and hoops encircling a ring, in three distinct colours reflecting the sub-themes of Expo 2020 Dubai - amber tinged orange for ‘opportunity’,  emerald green for ‘sustainability’ and cerulean blue for ‘mobility’. The Expo 2020 Dubai decals will remain on the 40 aircraft until April 2021.

One of the largest decal projects ever undertaken at the Emirates Aircraft Appearance Centre, it took 15,000 hours spanning over 14 months to apply the Expo 2020 decals on 20 Boeing 777 aircraft and 20 Airbus A380 aircraft. The Expo 2020 Dubai decals are also among the largest to be applied on the Emirates Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 fuselages, in addition to covering each aircraft type’s engine cowls.

Meanwhile, Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC), has been named as ‘Airline Caterer of the Year’, Middle East, for the fifth consecutive year at the PAX International Readership Awards.

Faysal Moufarrej, Chief Operations Officer, accepted the award on behalf of Emirates Flight Catering in Hamburg, Germany.

Faysal Moufarrej said: “This achievement could only have been made possible through our team’s commitment to providing the highest standards of product and service excellence to our customers. We are immensely proud to have received this award for the fifth year running. Our customers expect the same standard of food on board as in a five-star hotel and to provide this experience, we have recruited from high-end restaurants.

“We have a pool of talented, skilled chefs from around the world who are versed in traditional and authentic dishes, but with a flair for the latest trends.”

As one of the world’s largest airline catering operations, Emirates Flight Catering constantly looks at innovation, and ways to improve productivity, product and service quality by introducing the latest technology to its operations.

WAM