UAE's Etihad Airways teams up with Mumbai Indians

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has once again teamed up with Mumbai Indians for the 10th edition of the Vivo Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 cricket tournament that began this week.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline is lending its support for the fourth year running to one of the most successful franchise teams in the IPL and one of India’s biggest sports brands since the tournament was launched in 2008, it said in an emailed press release.

The IPL is the richest sporting franchise in India, with Mumbai Indians featuring a mix of both international experience and young talent. Crowned champions of the 2013 and 2015 Indian Premier League T20, the Mumbai Indians will be looking for a hat trick of tournament wins this year.

Etihad Airways’ logo will appear exclusively on the back of shirts worn by the Mumbai Indians at all home and away matches. Under the sponsorship agreement, Etihad Airways will also enjoy extensive branding and messaging beamed across LED pitch-side advertising and on giant screens at Mumbai Indians’ home matches.

The squad is once again captained by Indian batsman Rohit Sharma and coached for the first time by Sri Lanka’s former captain Mahela Jayawardena. Star players include Indian spin bowler Harbhajan Singh, Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga, New Zealand paceman Mitchell McClenaghan, England batsman-keeper Joss Buttler and West Indies’ World Cup T20 champions Kieron Pollard and Lendl Simmons.

Patrick Pierce, Etihad Airways Vice President Marketing Partnerships, said "Etihad Airways enjoys a strong sporting tradition. Cricket captures the hearts and minds of people all over India, and in indeed in many parts of the world, so we are pleased to be associated with the IPL watched by millions of cricket lovers globally on TV."

A spokesman for Mumbai Indians said, "Mumbai Indians are delighted to have support from Etihad Airways and we are really excited on the season ahead, looking forward to enthralling fans with some great cricket."

Etihad Airways operates three flights daily between its Abu Dhabi hub and Mumbai. With connecting services from across Etihad Airways’ network in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and North America via Abu Dhabi, the airline offers cricket lovers a choice of flights to Mumbai.

Together with Indian partner Jet Airways, Etihad Airways operates the largest combined frequency to and from India of any international airline with over 250 weekly flights connecting 15 gateway cities in India with the world.