Delta adds to MLB portfolio with Nationals deal

Delta Air Lines has expanded its Major League Baseball portfolio by signing a sponsorship deal with the Washington Nationals.

Delta has agreed a five-year deal to become the official airline and private jet carrier of the Nationals. The agreement will cover the 2016 to 2020 MLB seasons.

As part of the deal, the airline will take on naming rights to the Delta Sky360 Club hospitality area at the club’s Nationals Park ballpark. Delta will also receive extensive pitchside advertising exposure through LED signage and seat branding. In addition, it will fly the team to and from every away game.

With the addition of the Washington Nationals, Delta now sponsors nearly half of MLB’s 30 teams, more than any other airline. Delta recently renewed its long-term partnerships with the New York Mets and the New York Yankees, extending the airline's sponsorships with both teams through the 2023 season.

Delta also serves as the official airline of the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, and Minnesota Twins; while the airline also operates team charters for the Braves, Twins, Yankees and Mets, as well as for the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.