Manchester City have joined football's jet set – with their own plane kitted out in club colours.

The plane – emblazoned with the club's name and crest – graced the region's skies for the first time yesterday as it flew into Manchester Airport from Abu Dhabi.

The Blue Moon Rising jet, owned by sponsors Etihad Airways, touched down just after 3pm – and it was greeted by some of City's star players who were given a quick tour.



A team of 40 painters worked around the clock for EIGHTEEN days in Abu Dhabi to paint the A330-200 in City colours.

A staggering 450 litres of paint were required to complete the job.

Airline chiefs said the plane would take their sponsorship with City to new heights and it would also mark the commencement of double daily flights between Manchester and Abu Dhabi next month.

James  Hogan, Etihad Airways' chief executive officer, said: “We  are  very  proud  of  our  sponsorship  of Manchester City Football Club, and of our commitment to the wider community.

“Manchester has been a key destination for Etihad for five years, and the increase in frequency to double daily indicates our dedication to the region.

“Business and leisure travellers from all over the north west of England can now easily take advantage of the services, whether flying to Abu Dhabi, or further afield to destinations such as Thailand, Singapore or Australia.”

It is the latest step in the link-up between the club and the Middle East airline.

The carrier has been City's main sponsor since May 2009 and boss Roberto Mancini opened the airline's executive lounge at the airport last December.

City fans will get to follow in the footsteps of their heroes because when the plane is not transporting the players, it will be in normal service – meaning United fans flying out of Manchester may have to make the journey on the Blue jet.

It will operate on the Manchester-Abu Dhabi route – which goes to a double daily service from August 1 - but will also serve Milan, Frankfurt, Brussels,

Johannesburg, Cape  Town, Kuala  Lumpur, Jakarta, Singapore, Istanbul and destinations throughout the Middle East and India.

The US tour starts on Saturday, July 16, with a match against Club America in San Francisco, followed by games against the Vancouver Whitecaps and LA Galaxy.

The arrival of the aircraft comes as the MEN understands a deal for the naming rights to the City of Manchester stadium is poised to be finalised.

The US tour starts on Saturday 16 July with a match against Club America in San Francisco followed by matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps and LA Galaxy.

The MEN's City reporter Stuart Brennan will be covering the tour and you can follow his updates on his Facebook page.