The collection will focus on Etihad’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner liveries, including its popular Manchester City FC and “Greenliner” themed jets.
Etihad Airways is set to join the ranks of Qantas and airBaltic by launching its first non-fungible token (NFT) collection, titled “EY-ZERO1,” on July 16.
The series is set to focus on its fleet, featuring high-definition 3D models of ten separate Etihad Boeing 787 Dreamliner liveries, including Manchester City Football Club and the “Greenliner” themed aircraft. The collection is limited, with only 2003 to be minted.
“We’re excited to launch our first NFT collection, EY-ZERO1, which not only offers collectors, aviation enthusiasts, and travellers a unique work of art, but provides real-world travel and lifestyle benefits with Etihad Airways,” said Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group.
“NFTs and other metaverse technologies are revolutionising the digital economy, and we are proud to be one of the first airlines in the world to explore their potential to provide additional utility for our customers.”
The tokens will be available for purchase on etihad.arcube.io from 18:00 GST on July 21 to 18:00 GST on August 18, each priced at $349 (plus tax). In celebration of the new collection, the airline will be giving away 20 to people that pre-register on its website by July 16.
Purchases are also available to buy through Etihad’s Guest Rewards Shop, allowing its loyalty program members to redeem their Etihad Guest Miles for an NFT.
All purchases come with a one-year membership for Etihad’s Guest Silver tier and entry into a draw to be in with the chance of winning one of ten complimentary flight tickets.
Additionally, Etihad’s NFT owners will be given advance access to all future collections and metaverse products as part of its Web3 growth strategy.
In line with its commitments to sustainability, EY-ZERO1 will be minted on the energy-efficient Polygon blockchain, with the airline partnering alongside Aerial.is to track the carbon emissions of each NFT.
Polygon is notably working towards net-zero carbon emissions by the end of 2022, drastically reducing the emissions produced by the minting and transaction processes associated with the blockchain. Typically, just minting an NFT can produce up to 48 kg of carbon dioxide, according to data acquired by Earth.org. However, Etihad’s collaboration with Polygon will offset the entire carbon footprint of the project, investing the proceeds back into the purchase of sustainable aviation fuels.
“As well as recognising the artistic value of our aircraft liveries, our NFT collection has been designed to be as efficient as possible and support our wider sustainability and decarbonisation efforts at Etihad Airways,” added Douglas.
Etihad is not the only carrier moving to invest in the blockchain. airBaltic is noted for its early adoption of cryptocurrency payments, becoming the first airline to accept Bitcoin in 2014 globally, though, its progressive tech usage once again caught the attention of the media last year when it became the first airline to launch a range of NFTs. The collection focused on digital art featuring Latvia’s cultural and heritage sites as part of a tourism campaign, each sold for 1 ETH.
“NFTs are not only used for digital art transactions but may as well be expanded to tickets for concerts and other unique one-time pieces, including airline tickets,” CEO Martin Gauss said at the time. “The issue of the limited collector NFTs will serve as a tourism campaign for Latvian cities, certainly still an undiscovered destination for many.”
Several other airlines have since moved in on the venture, including Qantas, which launched a range of aviation heritage-themed tokens set for launch “mid-year,” Air Europa, and Emirates.
What are your thoughts on Etihad’s NFT collection? Will you be purchasing one? Let us know in the comments.
Source: Earth.org
Journalist – With a degree in journalism, Molly joins the team with an interest in aviation’s history, and its impact on politics, society, and culture. Molly has experience as a digital correspondent with Sky News. Based in Surrey, United Kingdom

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