Indiantelevision.com Team

(9 April 2008 8:30 pm)

MUMBAI: The DLF Indian Premier League (IPL) has announced that Kingfisher Airlines has been chosen as the official airline for the league.

The appointment as the official airline partner is in addition to Kingfisher Airlines' earlier commitment to the IPL as the umpire partner.

As per the official airline partner agreement, Kingfisher Airlines will extend its hospitality to all teams of the DLF IPL and BCCI officials. Also on offer will be dedicated check-in counters, VIP lounge access, an exclusive ground-handling team at all airports and a special helpline number for all air
travel needs.

DLF IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi says, "I am very pleased to have the country's premier five-star airline Kingfisher Airlines join us as our official airline partner. I am certain that the cricketers and officials alike will enjoy the 5-star hospitality of the airline while flying the good times across the country getting from one match to another. Their decision to extend the association beyond being umpire partners further bears testimony to the fact that the DLF Indian Premier League is here to stay and is set to carve out a distinct niche for itself in the international cricketing calendar."

Kingfisher Airlines chairman CEO Dr Vijay Mallya says, "We are delighted to extend our partnership with the DLF Indian Premier League as the official airline partner. Our multi-year agreement with the DLF Indian Premier League is further testimony of our commitment to Indian sports. I am certain that all the players and officials of the DLF Indian Premier League will undoubtedly enjoy our hospitality and fly the good times during the forty-four days of intense competition.

"The DLF Indian Premier League is a highly innovative concept and the Twenty20 format will undoubtedly take
cricket's popularity to a new high. I welcome all DLF IPL guests to sit back, relax and enjoy the Kingfisher experience."

Kingfisher Airlines has a long association with a variety of sports at both the domestic and international level including tennis, Formula 1, polo and now cricket.

The UB Group also owns the Bangalore franchise which it has called Royal Challengers.