World Cup fever soars into the skies: Emirates unveils the “Pelé-liveried” aircraft

▲ Pelé left his autograph on the specially painted aircraft. (Photo courtesy of Emirates, the same applies to the following images)

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Compiled from multiple sources

As one of the main sponsors of this year’s FIFA World Cup, Emirates recently unveiled its first Boeing 777-300ER “Pelé-liveried” aircraft. The plane’s livery features FIFA World Cup imagery designed by Emirates, along with the signature of football legend Pelé.

Pelé (Pelé) is Emirates’ global brand ambassador and a three-time FIFA World Cup champion. The “Pelé-liveried” aircraft will operate on the Dubai–São Paulo route, with two more Boeing 777s and an Airbus A380 set to follow, all sporting the same special design. During the 2014 World Cup, the “Pelé-liveried” aircraft is expected to carry over 18,000 passengers from around the world via Dubai to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo to attend the tournament.

▲ Emirates' special World Cup-themed livery aircraft.

Emirates also stated that to ensure fans don’t miss any updates from the World Cup, selected flights will feature live match broadcasts through the ice in-flight entertainment system. Passengers on other flights can also stay up to date with real-time match information via the ice system.

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