Emirates steps onto the court for the first time as Official Airline Partner of The Championships, Wimbledon.
Taking place from July 1 to 14 at The All England Lawn Tennis Club, the airline is set to serve world-class action throughout The Championships.
To mark its grand debut – the airline has unveiled a special A380 livery featuring the iconic Wimbledon logo placed in between two sporting silhouettes in action. The new livery will rally excitement as it heads to London Heathrow on 1 July, heralding the start of the third Grand Slam of the year.
The special decal will remain on the A380 aircraft throughout The Championships with scheduled services including London Heathrow, Manchester, Washington D.C., Paris, New York (JFK), Casablanca, Zurich, Brisbane, Barcelona and Perth.
Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, said: “Wimbledon is one of the most prestigious events on the global sports calendar and we’re thrilled to celebrate our first year as the Official Airline Partner. We have a unique opportunity to strengthen our enduring connection with tennis fans, including the many amongst our global customers. In our debut year of partnering with Wimbledon, our message to tennis fans will be big and bold. We look forward to showcasing some of the iconic Wimbledon experiences to our customers onboard, and also to bringing our renowned Emirates brand experience to The Championships at The All England Tennis Club.”
‘Fly better’ experiences on the grounds
Emirates will showcase its award-winning hospitality throughout The Championships and run a variety of activities to keep fans of all ages entertained. The airline will also be activating its sponsorship rights throughout the tournament with its signature “Emirates Experience” stand at the All England Club’s Grounds. Fans can look forward to interactive experiences and exclusive giveaways including a chance to win a memorable holiday to Dubai with Emirates Holidays.
Younger tennis enthusiasts can get involved in Roblox’s ‘Wimbleworld’ which features Emirates branded tennis courts and obstacle courses.
Taste of The Championships at 40,000 feet
Emirates will bring “a taste of The Championships” onboard all its flights to and from the UK in July. Economy and Premium Economy Class passengers will enjoy cream cheese mousse, strawberry compote, hazelnut streusel, and strawberry cheesecake.
First and Business Class passengers are in for a treat with strawberries and cream on offer, delicious pastries, and lemon strawberry cupcakes featuring a Championships logo dessert topper. Customers will also get into the Wimbledon spirit with bespoke Pimms cocktails served in the iconic A380 Onboard Lounge.
Passengers will also spot branded beverage coasters and headrests across the different cabins. First Class passengers travelling from Dubai to the UK will also be gifted Emirates branded Wimbledon 2024 towels, produced by Christy, the Official Towel Supplier of The Championships.
Fans who want to own a piece of the iconic event can also choose from a range of Christy Towels, A380 “Wimbledon” aircraft models, performance apparel, headwear, and other merchandise available on Emirates Official Store.
Never miss a match point
Those following The Championships can stay on top of the action as Emirates will screen Wimbledon matches live in its dedicated Emirates Lounges in Dubai and the UK as well as across its fleet on ice – the airline’s in-flight entertainment system.
Wimbledon’s official film, featuring all the action from last year’s event, will also be shown on the airline’s dedicated in-flight sports channels, Sport24 and Sport24 Extra, in addition to “Gods of Tennis,” “Novak Unmasked,” and other tennis movies, including “Silver Servers” and “McEnroe.”
Emirates lands an ace in the UK
Emirates is the Official Airline and Premier Partner of the ATP World Tour. The airline’s tennis portfolio includes the highest profile events in the world, including all four Grand Slams, and 60 other tournaments across the year. The airline enjoys on-court branding at all the Grand Slams, including Wimbledon, as well as net branding for all ATP tournaments.
In the UK, the airline is also a proud partner of Arsenal FC, the Emirates FA Cup and Lancashire Cricket Club, in addition to Emirates Old Trafford, and Emirates Great Britan SailGP Team.
Emirates currently serves the UK with 133 weekly flights across seven gateways including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, and Glasgow – utilising a fleet mix of Emirates A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. The airline also recently announced its highly anticipated return to Edinburgh with a daily A350 service starting from November 4, 2024.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
