Emirates Airline has unveiled a striking new Airbus A380 livery celebrating its sponsorship of all four tennis Grand Slam tournaments, transforming one of its flagship aircraft into a flying tribute to the sport. The Dubai-based carrier announced the special paint scheme on Wednesday, coinciding with the opening of the Australian Open tournament. The Grand Slam livery features each tournament logo framed within tennis ball emblems, rendered in the signature colors of the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, spanning the full height of the aircraft.
According to Emirates, only one A380 will feature this exclusive design, making it a rare sight for aviation enthusiasts and tennis fans alike. The aircraft will fly across the airline’s global network, including routes to Melbourne, Houston, and Sao Paulo, each representing a stop on the professional tennis circuit.
Building a Grand Slam Sponsorship Portfolio
The new livery represents the culmination of Emirates’ decade-long investment in professional tennis sponsorships. The airline began its Grand Slam journey in 2012 when it became the Official Airline of the US Open and the broader US Open Series, securing naming rights to a suite inside Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing.
In 2013, Emirates expanded its tennis presence by becoming Premier Partner and Official Airline of the ATP Tour, while also partnering with the French Open. The airline sponsors a private lounge in the Roland-Garros Village for tournament guests.
Additionally, Emirates announced its Australian Open sponsorship in 2014, creating an on-site hospitality suite that replicates an A380 interior. The airline completed its Grand Slam sponsorship portfolio in 2024 by replacing British Airways as the partner airline of Wimbledon, according to the company.
Emirates Names First Tennis Ambassador
Alongside the aircraft livery announcement, Emirates revealed that Belarussian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has become the airline’s first tennis ambassador. Sabalenka, currently ranked number one in the WTA Tour rankings, praised the partnership in a media statement.
“In tennis, every little detail counts — so to align with a brand which matches my ambition and attention to detail makes this feel like a natural fit,” Sabalenka said. She added that traveling in comfort with Emirates has been key to her preparation and that the partnership highlights what women in sport can achieve.
The timing of both announcements aligns strategically with the Australian Open, running from January 18 to February 1 in Melbourne. Emirates has maintained strong ties to luxury hospitality in tennis, mirroring the sport’s reputation for premium experiences.
Premium Hospitality at Melbourne Park
Emirates is offering first-class luxury amenities at its hospitality venue during the Australian Open. The Emirates Marquee at Melbourne Park features unlimited caviar service, including Ossetra caviar from Siberian sturgeon, served with traditional accompaniments.
Meanwhile, the venue’s decor incorporates handcrafted Arabic lanterns, Mashrabiya latticework, artisanal Middle Eastern textiles, date palm lighting, and native Dubai florals. According to the airline, the marquee will host more than 1,300 Skywards members, global business leaders, celebrities, and sports icons throughout the tournament.
However, Emirates’ on-site presence extends beyond exclusive hospitality. The airline sponsors the AO Ballpark Presented by Emirates, a fan zone featuring tennis activities for all ages, and hosted Kids Tennis Day on January 17 with family-friendly activities.
In contrast to traditional airline sponsorships that focus primarily on signage, Emirates’ $300 million global sponsorship portfolio emphasizes experiential activations that connect the luxury travel brand with tennis’s premium hospitality culture. The airline operates flights to key tennis destinations year-round, providing connectivity for players, officials, and fans traveling to tournaments worldwide.
As the Australian Open progresses through early February, tennis fans and aviation enthusiasts will be watching for sightings of the special Grand Slam livery on routes connecting major tennis cities. The airline has not announced how long the unique paint scheme will remain on the aircraft or whether additional planes might receive similar designs in the future.
