Soccer and airplanes: Our favorite English Premier League aircraft liveries
While being grounded for the past three months has been hard enough, the lack of pro sports has been an added pain for many. If you are a soccer fan, though, your future is looking brighter: just as travel begins to ramp back up, the most viewed football league in the world has also returned. As of Wednesday, the English Premier League has resumed holding matches. It won't be the same football / soccer we're used to — matches will be played behind closed doors, players and staff will be tested for the coronavirus twice a week, stadiums will be divided into three zones, there will be no handshakes before the match and more. But it's real, live, world-class sports, packing 92 games into 40 days and concluding on July 26.
And there's a strong link between the English Premier League and commercial aviation. Several major airlines have sponsorship deals with teams, and have decked out some of their jets in beautiful,soccer-themed special colors dedicated to Premier League teams and players that you have a chance of seeing at airports around the world, including in the U.S.
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Let's have a look at some of those stunning special-colors aircraft.
Emirates A380 and Boeing 777 with Arsenal liveries
Emirates' relationship with Arsenal is deep-rooted. Arsenal's home stadium is dubbed "The Emirates", while the club's jerseys have long been branded with the "Fly Emirates" logo. And that relationship is reflected on Emirates' metal.
In July 2015, Emirates unveiled a new Arsenal-themed livery on one of its Boeing 777-200LR aircraft. With the registration A6-EWJ, this 777 is just more than 11 years old, and is currently grounded in Dubai, awaiting the return of demand for air travel.
(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
While the aircraft was outfitted in this Arsenal livery until 2016, it was then repainted the following year in an "Arsenal Tour 2017" livery.
(Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
One of Emirates' Airbus A380 superjumbo aircraft was also painted to reflect the Arsenal relationship. A6-EES, a nearly seven-year-old A380. While it remained in the Arsenal livery for just a few months in 2016 — four months, according to PlaneSpotters — it was then repainted in "The Emirates FA Cup" special livery, celebrating the yearly competition that's separate from the Premier League.
(Photo by kamilpetran/Shutterstock)
Between December 2016 and June 2017, Emirates painted its A380 registered as A6-EUA in special Arsenal colors. In December 2017, the airline repainted the aircraft in the "Year of Zayed 2018" special colors.
(Photo by AirP72/Shutterstock)
In 2019, Emirates painted the most recent Arsenal livery on one of its A380 aircraft. The superjumbo, which is registered as A6-EEB, features a montage of Arsenal players, such as Lucas Torreira, Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and more.
(Photo by Arsenal FC/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
In 2018, Emirates and Arsenal announced a new sponsorship deal, which will see Emirates on the Arsenal jersey until at least the end of the 2023-2024 season. As part of the deal, Emirates Stadium as we know it today will remain as such until 2028.
AirAsia A320 with Leicester City livery
Thai AirAsia, co-owned by AirAsia, the Malaysia-based low-cost carrier, also has a relationship with the Premier League, although it doesn't fly to the U.K.
Thai AirAsia is co-owned by Thai-based King Power Group, which also owns Leicester City, a Premier League team — a relationship reflected in the color scheme applied in 2017 to one of the airline's Airbus A320s.
(Photo by Omid Behzadpour/Shutterstock)
The eight-year-old aircraft, carrying the Thai registration HS-ABV, had been grounded in March because of the coronavirus crisis and has just resumed flying. Typically, it flies to and from Bangkok's Don Muang airport (DMK), according to FlightRadar24, on trips around the region as far as India and the Maldives.
Aeroflot A321 with Manchester United livery
Aeroflot is the official carrier of Manchester United. The team's website says that the Russian carrier "provides strategic advice to the club on travel arrangements for the team and officials". Additionally, Aeroflot provides the club with charter services.
In 2014, Aeroflot unveiled a new livery on one of its A321 aircraft, featuring the colors of Manchester United. The traditional Aeroflot livery largely remained unchanged, but the rear of the aircraft took on the red and yellow of the Manchester United crest.
(Photo by aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The A321, which is registered as VP-BTL, is nearly seven years old, having been delivered to Aeroflot in 2014. Typically, the aircraft is used for Aeroflot's short- and medium-haul flights.
Currently, because of the coronavirus crisis and its upending of the aviation industry, the aircraft is stored. According to FlightRadar24, the aircraft last flew on May 31, between Sochi (AER) and Moscow (SVO). It had only operated three flights before that one since the end of March.
Because Aeroflot's route network doesn't include Manchester (MAN), you won't regularly find this aircraft flying to the airport for scheduled services — though it may happen if Man United were to use the aircraft for charter purposes. Instead, you're more likely to see this A321 flying to and from London Heathrow (LHR), which Aeroflot does serve.
Etihad 787 with Manchester City livery
Since 2009, Etihad and Manchester City have been partners. Manchester City's home is now called "Etihad Stadium", having picked up the name in 2011. Prior to the Etihad relationship, the stadium was known as the City of Manchester Stadium.
In October 2019, Etihad unveiled its newest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which was painted in a very identifiable Manchester City-themed livery.
Related: Flying a 5-day-old plane: Etihad business class on the 787-9 from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur
(Photo by Benthemouse/Shutterstock)
The aircraft, which is registered as A6-BND, is not quite one year old, having been delivered from Boeing to Etihad in October 2019. Because of the coronavirus crisis and the subsequent downturn in aviation demand, this Dreamliner has largely been stored. Since the end of April, the aircraft has operated five flights — between the airline's base in Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Bengaluru (BLR), Manila (MNL) and Dhaka (DAC).
While Etihad does fly nonstop between Manchester (MAN) and Abu Dhabi (AUH), itts schedules list a larger Boeing 787-10. However, on a few flights last year and early in 2020, Etihad used the Man City Dreamliner on its route to MAN. The last time that happened was on January 11.
AirAsia A320 with Manchester United livery
In 2006, Asian low-cost carrier AirAsia became the official low-fare carrier of Manchester United. Though the carrier doesn't fly to Manchester, or even the U.K. for that matter, Man United does have a large following in Asia. And as such, between January 2006 and April 2009, one of the carrier's aircraft was painted in Manchester United colors.
(Photo by Ian Lim/Wikimedia Commons)
The aircraft, which is registered as 9M-AFC, is a 14-year-old Airbus A320-200 aircraft. It was delivered to AirAsia in 2006. In April 2009, it was repainted in the carrier's "World's Best Low Cost Airline," according to PlaneSpotters.
Garuda Indonesia with Liverpool sticker
While this one doesn't fall into the actual special-livery category, it gets a mention because of the Liverpool sticker. Between July 2013 and February 2014, the aircraft featured a Liverpool FC sticker.
(Photo by Mike Fuchslocher/Getty Images)
The aircraft, which is registered as PK-GPA, is a nearly 24 years oldt, having been delivered to Garuda Indonesia in 1996. Today, it operates primarily between Jakarta (CGK) and Hong Kong (HKG), Singapore (SIN) and other Asian destinations.
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Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.