Emirates Airline Joins Ryder Cup Team

2010 is shaping up to be a busy year on all continents for Emirates Airline when it comes to sponsorship. The airline today announced it has agreed to become the official airline of the 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales as well as the European Team in 2012.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said: "The Ryder Cup is the pinnacle event in team golf so it is tremendous to be supporting Colin and his players as the Official Airline in 2010 and as an Official Partner of the European Team in 2012.

"As an Official Partner of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, 2010 was always going to be a memorable year for Emirates. It is now going to be even more special with The Ryder Cup marking the crowning moment in our long and successful association with golf."

Emirates, which in 2004 broke new ground with a £100 million sponsorship of british football club FC Arsenal, is already the official airline for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. In the U.S., Emirates is the Official Airline of the USA Rugby National Sevens Teams, a Premier Partner of the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup and announced last week a major sponsorship of the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament. Emirates also sponsors a host of events throughout the Middle East such as the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Dubai International Film Festival and the Dubai World Cup horse race.

Emirates – which in 2010 will travel to 25 European destinations after adding Amsterdam, Prague and Madrid to its network – will be connecting passengers to the 2010 Ryder Cup, as well as the 2012 event in Illinois, with San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston and New York.

Nigel Page, Emirates' Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Americas & Africa recently said. "We have been a sponsor of major sporting events for more than twenty years and believe they provide a great platform to connect with our customers.