British Airways is celebrating the countdown to the London 2012 Olympics by emblazoning the words ‘One Year to Go’ onto the belly of an Airbus A318 aircraft.

The official airline partner of the Olympic and Paralympic games, British Airways has said that tomorrow, which will mark the one year countdown, the plane will fly from London City Airport to New York.  The flight will pass over the Olympic Park and East London.

Footage of the plane will be made available on YouTube.

The plane was unveiled by British Airways ambassador and Olympic Gold medalist Denise Lewis, who said: “The countdown to the London 2012 Games has finally taken off, and I’m proud to be part of it. It’s fantastic to mark the occasion with a celebratory message on a BA aircraft flying over East London.”

Garry Copeland, British Airways director of engineering, said: “This is the first time in the history of British Airways that we have branded the underbelly of an aircraft with a celebratory message. We hope it will bring a real sense of excitement to the Olympic Park and people living around the area.

“With the countdown underway, British Airways is preparing to welcome the world to Great Britain in 2012.”

British Airways is not the only company celebrating the countdown, with Absolute Radio and Lloyds TSB launching a campaign which features a Lloyds page appearing on the Absolute website and a special countdown breakfast show tomorrow.