Air Canada Unveils Airbus A220 Livery Honoring NBA Toronto Raptors Star Vince Carter

Air Canada has painted one of its Airbus A220s with a special livery in honor of retired NBA star Vince Carter. Air Canada will continue to fly the athlete’s number high after his former team, the Toronto Raptors, retired his jersey.

Number 15 in the skies

The Canadian flag carrier unveiled the new livery on November 1, 2024, a day before the Toronto Raptors retired Vince Carter’s number 15 jersey. Carter spent seven seasons with the NBA team and earned the nickname “Air Canada” because of his gravity-defying dunks. The airline recognizes Carter’s excellence and impact on basketball in the country.

Photo: Toronto Raptors

The new livery is predominantly white, with Carter’s silhouette and signature on the fuselage. The tail is painted black and features the star’s famous number 15 in white and red, representing the colors of the Raptors. The undercarriage also features Carter’s name and number so fans can spot the aircraft as it flies across the country.

The Evolution Of Air Canada’s Livery

The flag carrier has sported various looks over the decades.

The Airbus A220 bearing the new livery has registration C-GUPG. It was built in Montreal, Canada, and delivered to the airline in June 2021. Since then, it has accumulated 6,905 flight hours across 2,922 cycles. Flightradar24 shows that the aircraft has already flown to Montreal, Toronto, Fredericton, Ottawa, Houston, and Chicago since receiving the new paint job.

Game recognizes game

The link between Air Canada and Vince Carter was strengthened as Carter played in the arena where, at the time, Air Canada was the inaugural naming sponsor. The connection tied the athlete, the airline, and Canadian basketball together in a memorable way. Andy Shibata, Vice President, Brand at Air Canada, said:

“Everyone at Air Canada is beyond excited to celebrate Vince Carter’s trailblazing career. As the country’s national airline, we’re proud of our long-standing support for Canada’s teams and exceptional athletes. Vince Carter’s legacy shows that, in addition to his number taking its place in the rafters, it also is meant to fly.”

The A220 will sport the special livery until the end of April 2025. The initiative is part of the airline’s commitment to supporting and celebrating Canadian teams and athletes who excel in their disciplines while valuing diversity and inclusivity. It is also part of the airline’s ongoing commitment to sharing the best of Canada with the world.

Photo: Toronto Raptors

The airline also stood by Carter as his jersey was retired during a 23-minute halftime ceremony on Saturday, November 2, when the Raptors faced the Sacramento Kings. He became the first player to have his jersey retired by the Raptors after an illustrious career with the Franchise. Speaking about Air Canada’s new livery, Vince Carter said:

“The city of Toronto, and Canada as a whole, has meant so much to me throughout my career. I am deeply touched by this tribute from Air Canada and can’t wait to share the excitement with all the incredible fans across the country.”

The superstar retired from the NBA in 2020 after playing 1,541 games in over 22 seasons. He played for eight different teams and is the only player in NBA history to see action in four different decades. One of his former teams, the Brooklyn Nets, will also retire Carter’s number 15 jersey in honor of his career and legacy.

Another NBA livery in the skies

While Air Canada is taking an NBA legend’s legacy to the skies, another airline is representing the famous basketball league across the pond. On October 18, Emirates unveiled a new bold NBA livery to celebrate the 2024-25 season. The Dubai-based carrier is the inaugural title partner of the Emirates NBA Cup, which will be played between November 12 and December 17.

Photo: Emirates

The Airbus A380 was fully repainted as part of an elaborate project by the Emirates Engineering Aircraft Appearance Centre team. It features a striking blue gradient across the fuselage, complemented by the NBA logo and a basketball trail. Until December 17, the airline will treat customers with NBA-inspired onboard products when traveling to and from 14 airports in the US and Canada.