Emirates brings the Fly Better experience to San Siro: Business Class seats take centre stage at the Milan–Inter derby
In collaboration with AC Milan, the airline has created an installation featuring two aircraft seats to celebrate Kaká becoming the first recipient of the club’s Hall of Fame Best Playmaker award.
Milan, 2 November 2026 – On 31 October, Emirates transported its signature ‘Fly Better’ experience all the way from Dubai to San Siro for the AC Milan–Inter derby, installing its iconic Business Class seats in the stadium’s VIP stands and bringing its onboard premium experience to the Italian football grounds.
Emirates’ surprise at the AC Milan-Inter derby extended beyond just the Business Clas seats display. As fan cameras turned towards the stands, another surprise reveal caught fans and viewers off guard: AC Milan legend Ricardo Kaká was spotted seated in one of the Emirates Business Class seats, casually reading a copy of the Dubai Journal as Rossoneri fans applauded and cheered. The surprise appearance also set the stage for a special milestone in the club legend’s career, as Kaká received the trophy of the AC Milan’s Hall of Fame Presented by Emirates, after being voted by fans among the Club’s best midfielders alongside Ruud Gullit and Carlo Ancelotti.
This initiative brings together two worlds - aviation and sport – highlighting the natural synergy between the two. Emirates connects fans with the sports, teams and clubs they love through its global partnership, while AC Milan stands as one of football’s most iconic and widely supported clubs. Both brands enjoy global recognition and loyalty, built on their contributions to their massive respective industries and their shared role in bringing people together through sport, culture and hospitality.
Watch the reveal here.
Longest-standing partnership in football
Emirates’ enduring partnership with AC Milan began in 2007, making it one of the longest and most successful partnerships in football. As the club’s Principal Partner and Official Airline Partner, Emirates’ iconic ‘Fly Better’ branding features on AC Milan’s jerseys, reflecting the strength and visibility of this decades-long relationship.
More than a strategic partnership, the connection extends beyond the pitch, enabling Emirates to bring the club and its players closer to fans in key markets around the world. By bringing its A380 Business Class seats to San Siro for a surprise fan experience, Emirates once again demonstrates its commitment to sport and culture, while bringing its distinctive onboard product experience to an entirely new setting.
About Emirates' expansive sponsorship portfolio
Emirates' extensive portfolio of global sports and cultural partnerships connects millions of people through shared passions and world-class experiences. The airline's iconic "fly better" branding appears on the jerseys of leading football clubs including Arsenal FC, Real Madrid CF, AC Milan, S.L. Benfica, and Olympique Lyonnais. Emirates also serves as Platinum Partner to FC Bayern Munich's first team. Emirates has been the title sponsor of The FA Cup for nearly a decade. In the UAE, the airline supports the Pro League in its 2026/2027 season.
Beyond football, Emirates' commitment to connecting fans across the globe through shared sporting moments spans horse racing through the Dubai World Cup and Team Godolphin; premier tennis tournaments including the ATP and WTA Dubai Duty Free Championships, and all four Grand Slams (US Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Australian Open); golf via the DP World Tour and Hero Dubai Desert Classic (HDDC); cricket across all major ICC events and the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires and Lancashire County Cricket Club; rugby partnerships including the Emirates Dubai 7s, Cape Town Sevens, World Rugby referees and officials, and Rugby World Cup events, as well as EPCR (Investec Champions Cup, Challenge Cup), Asia Rugby and UAE Rugby Federation; sailing with Emirates Team New Zealand, SailGP and Emirates Great Britain Sail GP team; basketball through the NBA, Real Madrid and Beirut Basketball club; cycling with UAE Team Emirates XRG; and Australian rules football with Collingwood FC.
The airline has also maintained its long-standing support for music, arts, and culture, from symphony orchestras to annual literature festivals.
Read more here: https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/about-us/our-communities/sponsorship/