Abu Dhabi: Etihad Airways made a significant move into the American sports market when it was announced on Tuesday that the UAE’s national carrier had signed a deal to become the official airline partner of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the US.
It is the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s first multi-year sports sponsorship in the region and one that underscores its expanding commitment to the market.
Etihad Airways and MLS will also work together on a number of initiatives including community programmes, hosting competitions and promotions for flights and holidays for MLS fans.
James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad, said: “Etihad Airways has a growing portfolio of sports properties that cover the globe and we’re delighted to now add Major League Soccer, a leading international sports brand, to this group.”
The agreement will see the Etihad Airways logo and its messages beamed across pitch-side advertising during nationally televised MLS matches, as well as across national broadcast partners and MLS Digital Properties, the leading online football platform in North America.
Don Garber, MLS Commissioner, said: “We are excited to welcome Etihad Airways as the official airline partner of Major League Soccer in the United States and are proud to be the first major sports association in the US for such a prestigious global company. On behalf of our clubs, our players and our millions of fans, we welcome Etihad Airways to the MLS family and look forward to working with them to help grow their business in this region.”
