Emirates has successfully transported the Emirates NBA Cup trophy to New York, commemorating the start of the Emirates NBA Cup 2024. The trophy was accompanied by NBA legend James Worthy as it made its way across the Atlantic. NBA Cup touches down in New York Emirates is the Official Global Airline Partner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the inaugural title partner of the Emirates NBA Cup.
The airline transported the trophy onboard its NBA-themed Airbus A380 on November 12, 2024. According to Flightradar24 , the superjumbo, registered A6-EOD, departed Dubai International Airport at 08:56, and landed at New York JFK Airport at 13:37 local time. Operating Flight EK201, the A380's arrival coincided with the start of the tournament, which will end with a Championship game on December 17 in Las Vegas.
Onboard the flight was James Worthy, an NBA legend who played his entire career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Prior to the flight, Worthy met with Emirates Airline and Group Chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, at the company’s headquarters in Dubai . He also participated in a youth basketball clinic at Zabeel Park as part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.
Basketball-inspired onboard service Emirates unveiled its new NBA-themed A380 on October 18 . It features a striking bold blue livery with red engine cowlings, the NBA logo, and a basketball trail on the fuselage. On this special flight, it sported basketball-themed cabin decor across all classes, capturing .
