United Airlines Celebrate their 100th Anniversary with a Co Branded Adidas Samba Exclusive for Employees

United Airlines is marking its 100th anniversary with a co branded adidas Samba, following a growing pattern of legacy carriers using iconic sneaker silhouettes to celebrate major milestones with their workforce.

Exclusive Sneaker for Employees

The United Airlines x adidas Samba is designed as an employee exclusive release, tying the airline’s 100 year history to one of adidas Originals’ most culturally prominent silhouettes of the past three years. While full colorway and design details have not been officially confirmed, the Samba’s flat profile and clean leather upper offer a natural canvas for aviation themed branding.

Following Delta’s AF1 Playbook

The move mirrors what Delta Air Lines did in 2025 to mark its own centennial, producing an employee only Nike Air Force 1 collaboration that circulated widely on social media despite never reaching public retail. Both drops reflect a broader trend of airlines and legacy institutions using limited, non commercial sneaker collabs to build internal culture, reward staff loyalty, and generate organic brand visibility outside traditional marketing spend.

Why the Samba Fits the Moment

The Samba has been one of the most consistently sold out and culturally visible sneakers globally since 2023, making it a high recognition choice for a centennial collaboration that employees will actually want to wear off duty. For adidas, the deal adds another marquee institutional partner to a collab roster that has expanded well beyond sport into music, food, and travel.

For sneaker enthusiasts and aviation fans alike, the United x adidas Samba joins Delta’s AF1 as evidence that employee exclusive drops are becoming a standard centennial playbook for American carriers looking to mark history in a format that resonates with a younger workforce.