BARCELONA, March 5 – Qatar Airways will enter into a strategic partnership with football giants FC Barcelona that sees the airline’s brand name appear on first team shirts from the start of the 2013/14 season, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported. The three-year agreement with the runaway Spanish league leaders and former winners of the Champions League will be effective from July 1, 2013.
Qatar Airways will become the club’s Global Main Partner, signaling the first time the airline has engaged in a sponsorship with a major soccer club, the company said in a statement. Its Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said it will be a unique partnership between the World’s Best Club and the Best Airline in the World, describing the alignment with Barca as a fitting match for both organisations.
He added that the partnership will elevate the brands to a new platform on the global stage and sharing the same values passionate about being the best at what we do in our respective fields. Al Baker was joined by FC Barcelona president Sandro Rosell to announce the upcoming partnership at a joint Press Conference held at the club’s home
stadium, Camp Nou earlier on Monday.
As part of the agreement, the airline’s name will adorn, from the start of the 2013/14 season, Barca first-team shirts at La Liga matches across Spain, Champions League matches across Europe, as well as friendly matches, including FC Barcelona’s pre-season tours.
BERNAMA
