AirAsia scores Sponsorship Deal with Manchester United

Manchester United and AirAsia have signed a new one year deal that will place AirAsia as the Club’s Official Low Fare Airline.

The agreement, which includes global advertising and sponsorship activity, above and below the line, starts in August 2005, and covers AirAsia’s associate companies Thai AirAsia and AWAIR in Indonesia. The group has carried over 11 million passengers since its takeover in 2001, on an extensive network that reaches out to the masses residing in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Macau, China, Singapore, and the Philippines.

An official signing ceremony was held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Hong Kong today to mark the partnership; a first for both AirAsia and Manchester United. Present at the ceremony were Manchester United’s representatives David Gill, CEO, Andy Anson, Commercial Director, who met with officials from AirAsia, Mr. Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tassaporn Bijleveld, CEO – Thai AirAsia, and Mr. Sendjaja Widjaja, President Director – PT AWAIR.

The signing was witnessed by Sir Bobby Charlton, Peter Draper, Marketing Director – Manchester United, and regional media from Hong Kong , Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. AirAsia had exclusively chartered a flight with media from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, direct to Hong Kong for the sole purpose of witnessing this historic deal.

Speaking at the announcement of the deal on the team’s tour of Hong Kong, David Gill, Manchester United's Chief Executive, said, “We are delighted to sign AirAsia. AirAsia is a highly dynamic, innovative and focused organisation that provides a welcome addition to Manchester United’s family of global partners.”

Andy Anson, the Club’s Commercial Director added, “Signing a deal with such a vibrant organisation as AirAsia, which provides an excellent high value service to a number of Asian markets, is very exciting. Their markets are home to a large number of Manchester United supporters and this deal signifies our growing popularity internationally.”

Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia Berhad said, “Manchester United stands for creativity, passion and the best of football. The partnership signifies our determination to be the best and have the highest quality product. In the ensuing years AirAsia will stand for all that Manchester is, in becoming the best quality and value for money airline in the world. Now Everyone Can Fly… including all the Greats”.

In December 2005, the group is expected to receive delivery of the first of up to 100 Airbus A320s that will gradually be introduced into the airline’s operations.

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