Today Emirates cheered Benfica in a very special way. As the club gets closer to winning its 35th Primeira Liga Championship, a Benfica themed Boeing 777-300ER was dispatched and greeted by the entire squad at Lisbon Airport.

The bespoke aircraft flew to Lisbon, operating as EK191. Luisão, Nicolás Gaitán, rising star Renato Sanches and the rest of the team were at the airport to witness the landing and take some photos.

David Quito, Emirates’ Country Manager, Portugal, said: “It’s an exciting time for Benfica as they get closer to clinching their 35th Primeira Liga Championship and 7th Taça da Liga. This initiative combines our passion for football with Benfica supporters’ passion for their club. We hope that this branded aircraft will contribute to bringing the club closer to its fans around the world.”

Domingos Soares de Oliveira, Sport Lisboa and Benfica’s CEO, said: “Thanks to our partnership with Emirates, we’ve been able to expand our presence by connecting with fans around the world. Seeing the branded aircraft in Lisbon today means a lot to us. It clearly shows Emirates’ deep commitment to Portugal and football.”

The Benfica aircraft will return to Dubai as EK192 and then continue to operate on Emirates’ vast network of more than 150 destinations around the world.

(Report & Photo courtesy Emirates Press Release)