Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne in the new Etihad advert. Courtesy Etihad / YouTube
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne in the new Etihad advert. Courtesy Etihad / YouTube
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne in the new Etihad advert. Courtesy Etihad / YouTube
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne in the new Etihad advert. Courtesy Etihad / YouTube

Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester City stars 'make a football fly' in new Etihad Airways Dreamliner advert


Ian Oxborrow
  • English
  • Arabic

If there's one English Premier League player who could bend a football through an open aircraft door from 30 yards it's Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne.

And so the Belgian dead-ball specialist proves (with a little video editing) in a new advert from City's sponsors, Etihad Airways.

De Bruyne stars in the video, advertising Etihad's new City-themed livery on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner, alongside teammates Ederson, Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez, Joao Cancelo and Steph Houghton from Manchester City Women.

The players are dressed as airport ground workers - and Gundogan in particular looks as though he's enjoying himself as he waves the luminous sticks which are used to direct runway traffic.

De Bruyne then strips out of his work gear to reveal a City kit and delivers a perfect set-piece through the door of the 787.

"With @ManCity  at our side, there's more than one way to make a football fly," Etihad states alongside the video clip.

The aircraft made its inaugural flight from Abu Dhabi to Manchester on Monday, October 21, with guests given Manchester City merchandise.

They were met by Omar Berrada, chief operating officer for Manchester City; club legend Joleon Lescott; goalkeeper Karen Bardsley and mascots for a welcome ceremony upon arrival in Manchester.

The new Manchester City livery is the first since 2011, following the “Blue Moon Rising” theme that was launched on Etihad's A330-200 to celebrate its second daily service to Manchester.

The City livery is one of a number of special designs rolled out by Etihad this year.

The Abu Dhabi airline put out a Saudi Arabian-inspired Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to mark Saudi's 89th National Day in September, and earlier this year it celebrated the Special Olympics World Games in the UAE capital with a bespoke livery, again on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

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Airbus A380 special livery history

  • Emirates is ramping up operations via its A380 jets to meet travel demands. Photo: AP
    Emirates is ramping up operations via its A380 jets to meet travel demands. Photo: AP
  • The A380 is the world's largest passenger jet. Photo: Getty Images
    The A380 is the world's largest passenger jet. Photo: Getty Images
  • Emirates is the world's biggest A380 customer and offers shower spas and an upper-deck lounge for premium passengers. Photo: Emirates
    Emirates is the world's biggest A380 customer and offers shower spas and an upper-deck lounge for premium passengers. Photo: Emirates
  • Emirates A380 economy class. Photo: Emirates
    Emirates A380 economy class. Photo: Emirates
  • Inside Emirates new A380 Premium Economy cabin. Courtesy Emirates
    Inside Emirates new A380 Premium Economy cabin. Courtesy Emirates
  • The Emirates super jumbo is known for its luxury. Photo: Emirates
    The Emirates super jumbo is known for its luxury. Photo: Emirates
  • The grand staircase on an Emirates airline Airbus A380. Photo: AP
    The grand staircase on an Emirates airline Airbus A380. Photo: AP
  • A custom A380 livery dedicated to Dubai’s Museum of the Future. Photo: Emirates
    A custom A380 livery dedicated to Dubai’s Museum of the Future. Photo: Emirates
  • The United for Wildlife Emirates A380 before its first flight to London. Photo: Emirates
    The United for Wildlife Emirates A380 before its first flight to London. Photo: Emirates
  • The Emirates Year of Zayed A380 makes a scenic landing in Hong Kong. Photo: Emirates
    The Emirates Year of Zayed A380 makes a scenic landing in Hong Kong. Photo: Emirates
  • The Emirates FA Cup branded A380. Photo: Emirates
    The Emirates FA Cup branded A380. Photo: Emirates