PGA Tour Gets New Official Airline
The PGA TOUR and United Continental Holdings, Inc., the holding company for Continental and United Airlines, have today announced a five-year marketing partnership that aligns both carriers to the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour starting in 2011. Financial terms were not released.
United and Continental, which reached a merger agreement in May of this year, will share the benefits of the sponsorship, while the “Official Airline” designation will pass to United as the integration process proceeds.
"We are extremely pleased to announce this new long-term agreement with United Continental Holdings and are very excited about the consumer and player programs that will be initiated through our partnership," said Tom Wade, chief marketing officer for the PGA TOUR. "The combined hub system and route network align extremely well with our Tour schedules, which is very beneficial to our members, as well as to the frequent fliers who might take advantage of the special PGA TOUR promotional programs."
The new partnership, which runs through 2015, will provide both airlines' frequent flier members the opportunity to obtain special PGA TOUR-related benefits, including:
"We are thrilled to partner our brand with an organization that receives great global attention. This partnership will offer exceptional benefits for our customers and the PGA TOUR's membership base of players from around the world," said Jim Compton, United's executive vice president and chief revenue officer. "We're proud to be the 'Official Airline' of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour."
Members of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour will also receive significant travel benefits, including frequent flier program elite status privileges and complimentary access to over 50 airport lounges throughout the world.
The PGA Tour's tournament footprint overlaps with seven of the airlines' hub markets. United suceeds Delta Airlines as the PGA Tour's Official Airline.
