Hong Kong , 22nd July 2005 – Manchester United today announced a new one year deal with AirAsia, the leading & largest low fare airline in Asia, to be the Club’s Official Low Fare Airline. In doing so, AirAsia would go down in history as the first Asian Low Cost Airline to successfully associate itself with one of the biggest football club in the English Premier League.
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, 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 Philppines, 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, the Club’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”.
Tassapon Bijleveld, Chief Executive Officer, Thai AirAsia said:
“We are ecstatic to be the official low cost airline partner for Manchested United . The sponsorship allows us to share our enthusiasm in a premier sporting event that has captured the hearts and interests of the many football fans out there. Our partnership with Manchester United is our way of saying thank you to the people who have supported us.”
Sendjaja Widjaja, President Director, AWAIR commented:
“These are exciting times for both AirAsia and Manchester United. Not only do we share the same corporate colors, but we also possess the same passion and energy that drives us to excel in the things we do. We feel very strongly about this sponsorship and aim to forge a close relationship with the club , so that we can build partnerships that can mutually benefit each other.”
The award winning airline AirAsia is no stranger to charting milestones throughout its 3 ? year operation. Since its take -over in 2001, AirAsia has revolutionized air travel in the region to become a leading low fare airline in Asia. In 2004, AirAsia formed successful joint ventures in Thailand, Thai AirAsia a joint venture with Shin Corporation 2004 while PT AWAIR was re-launched as an Indonesian based low fare airline on Dec 2004. To date, the AirAsia Group has carried over 11 million passengers. Come December 2005, the Group is expected to receive delivery of the first of up to 100 Airbus A320s that would gradually be introduced into the airline’s operations.
Notes to Editors
AirAsia joins Manchester United’s other commercial partners: Nike, Vodafone, Audi, Budweiser, Century FM, Fuji, Ladbrokes, Pepsi and Wilkinson Sword.
For further information, please contact:
For AirAsia:
Lim Su Ching, Marketing Director, 6 03 8660 4270 or
Jeamie Lee, Senior Executive – Promotions & Publicity, 6 03 8660 4000
Email: jeamielee@airasia.com
For Manchester United:
Philip Townsend, Director of Communications, +44 7780 956006
