Here is how an Airbus A380 super-jumbo was repainted to showcase Emirates Courier Express' new livery

Dubai: Emirates has revealed a striking new look for one of its iconic Airbus A380 super jumbo jets, showcasing its latest venture: Emirates Courier Express, a door-to-door delivery service. Inspired by brown paper packages, the unique livery was unveiled on Friday. According to the airline, the livery highlights the airline’s ambition to transform the express delivery sector by leveraging its extensive global network and decades of experience transporting passengers and goods.

A time-lapse video released by the airline captures the intricate process of transforming the aircraft at Emirates Engineering in Dubai. The project involved a complete repaint, encompassing the design, production, installation, and painting of the bespoke livery to bring the concept to life.

The design mimics a brown kraft paper wrapping around the nose and fuselage of the A380. The “wrapping” appears torn away at the tailfin to reveal the familiar colours of the UAE flag. The Emirates Courier Express logo is prominently displayed on both sides of the aircraft and on each of its four engines. The belly of the super jumbo features Emirates’ classic red branding. Adding to the “special delivery” theme, a large stamp graphic and recognizable handling stamps decorate the aircraft’s body.

The newly liveried Emirates A380 has already commenced operations, taking its inaugural flight to O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg this week. On this flight, the aircraft carried both passengers and parcels.

Emirates Courier Express will expand its offerings to include shipping between individuals by 2026. The service launched on April 2 currently handles only business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) deliveries.

Dennis Lister, Senior Vice President of Product and Innovation at Emirates, told Gulf News in an earlier interview that “consumer-to-consumer,” or C2C, service is a bit more complex due to regulations surrounding personal deliveries.

“We are not doing that just yet, but it will come next year,” he said, urging readers to “Watch this space.” Person-to-person shipping allows individuals to send packages directly to other individuals.

This differs from standard business shipping and typically involves personal items, gifts, or goods exchanged between private individuals rather than companies. Emirates Courier Express aims to provide a convenient door-to-door delivery service, utilizing Emirates’ extensive network of over 250 aircraft and its partner network.