The England and Wales Cricket Board has signed up Etihad Airways as the first official airline partner of the England national cricket teams.
The deal with the United Arab Emirates airline will run for three years, from 2014 to 2016. England men’s, women’s age-group and disability teams are all covered under the agreement.
As part of the deal, Etihad will have access to England players for promotional appearances and will also benefit from advertising at international grounds in England and Wales, tickets and hospitality packages. The agreement will extend to winter training camps in the UAE involving England squads and a joint community-based cricket initiative.
“The welcome addition of the England cricket team to our growing portfolio of global sporting associations demonstrates our commitment to the UK market and also to major international sporting events. Etihad Airways chief commercial officer Peter Baumgartner said. “Cricket enables Etihad Airways to create strong synergies between the key cricket playing nations and our major flight networks across the Indian subcontinent, Australia and the UK.”
Etihad Airways’ sports sponsorship portfolio includes English Premier League football club Manchester City and its Etihad Stadium, the Mumbai Indians Indian Premier League cricket franchise, the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, the Gaelic Athletic Association Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship, Major League Soccer in the US and the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.