JetBlue unveils a Florida Panthers-themed Airbus A320.

JetBlue unveiled a Florida Panthers-themed Airbus A320 on Thursday morning at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Dania Beach, Florida.

The aircraft is painted in Panthers red with the team’s secondary shoulder logo — a creeping panther — running along the fuselage.

The team’s shield logo appears on the tail, and the stick-and-palm logo is placed near the boarding door for fan selfies.

The plane carries the special designation “Go Cats Go.”

Aleksander Barkov, Brad Marchand, and general manager Bill Zito attended the official unveiling ceremony.

Zito said, “This is pretty cool.”

Barkov said, “It’s unreal. Obviously, I’ve seen the Boston Bruins [JetBlue] plane before, and it was really nice, but this one’s also really nice. I love it. Classy looking with the big cat on the side.”

The Panthers captain added, “Like every detail is unbelievable. Underneath with the text and everything, you can see the bottom [of the plane] when it goes up and it says Florida Panthers. That’s pretty cool.”

Zito described the design as “elegant” and “almost perfect.”

He said, “The panther goes this far, and then it’s red. Then there’s a JetBlue logo. If you look next to the door on your way in, there’s the palm tree and hockey stick logo, so fans could do a selfie when they’re getting on the plane. It’s just so well thought out and well-engineered. I’m really excited. It’s great.”

When asked what the plane means to the organization, Zito said, “Initially, it’s pride in Fort Lauderdale and in Broward County, and all the people who work so hard to enjoy and make it such a wonderful place for all of us to live. Then there’s just the element of fun, right? You look at it and it’s beautiful. It’s fun and it’s vibrant. It gives you energy and puts a smile on your face.”

Barkov noted the significance of seeing the Panthers brand expand further into South Florida.

He said, “It’s a great thing to see, for sure. Like you see [our logo] more and more. When you think that you can’t see it more, then they come up with a plane. It’s been great. Every single day here since I joined the organization, I feel like we’ve been taking steps forward. I’m just looking forward to many more things to come.”

Barkov also spoke about the support the team receives from the community.

He said, “You play for the team, but then it’s much bigger than that. You play for the fans, you play for the community, for the city. You feel their support. That adds even more fuel for you to want to do whatever you need to be as good as possible for every single person in the room, in the building, in…”

The aircraft is not a team charter.

The Panthers themselves will continue to fly on their special charter operated by Delta.

This Airbus A320 is a revenue passenger plane in regular JetBlue service.

It had already been in use before the official unveiling, flying from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to the Dominican Republic before landing at Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday for the ceremony.

After the unveiling, Air Cat One — as it is informally called — was scheduled to fly from Fort Lauderdale to Boston Logan International Airport later that afternoon.

Zito said, “I can’t wait until this beautiful plane touches down in Boston later this afternoon.”

JetBlue has a history of special liveries celebrating sports teams and local culture.

The airline has previously painted aircraft with the colors and logos of the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, and Boston Red Sox.

It also has a Brooklyn Nets-themed plane, a Dunkin’-themed plane, and aircraft honoring the FDNY, the I ❤️ NY campaign, and the New York Jets.

JetBlue’s corporate headquarters are in Long Island City, New York.

The airline has been a longtime sponsor of the Florida Panthers, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is one of JetBlue’s main hubs.

The new Panthers-themed aircraft is intended to serve as a highly visible ambassador for the team across JetBlue’s network.

The custom livery celebrates the airline’s long-standing partnership with the NHL franchise and their shared connection to South Florida.

The launch comes as the Panthers continue to build their profile both on and off the ice.

The team won the Stanley Cup in 2024 and has remained a competitive force in the Atlantic Division.