Indiantelevision.com Team

(30 March 2009 5:45 pm)

MUMBAI: The DLF Indian Premier League (IPL) has announced that Kingfisher Airlines has renewed its deal to be the Official Airline and Travel Partner for the league in the second season.

As the official airline and travel partner to the DLF Indian Premier League, Kingfisher Airlines will extend its hospitality to not only all the teams and players of the DLF Indian Premier League but will also offer IPL fans in India the unique opportunity to travel to South Africa to root for their favourite teams participating in Season 2009 in South Africa.

Kingfisher Airlines is working in close consultation with the South African Tourism and three of the largest tour operators to offer cricket fans a unique once in a life time fare to experience cricket in the Rainbow Nation, an official release said. The airline is also working closely with IPL to ensure that all teams and support management get to "travel in style and convenience" between India and South Africa.

Kingfisher packages to South Africa will look to offer fans an end-to-end experience with airline tickets, match tickets, hotels and on-ground arrangements all built into one exciting package at an unbeatable price, the company said.

Taking things a step further, Kingfisher will also offer customised tours based on each team’s fan base and will facilitate special flights within India to ensure that fans of all the franchises can connect to convenient flights between India and South Africa.

In addition to that fans can also savour the treasures of the Rainbow Nation with local sight-seeing tours conducted by expert tour operators and local guides to enhance their South African experience. Attractively priced IPL match tickets will ensure that fans from all across can fly and support their teams.

IPL chairman and commissioner Lalit Modi says, "I am very pleased to have the country’s premier 5 star airline Kingfisher Airlines join us as our Official Airline and Travel Partner. I am certain that the IPL fans travelling to South Africa for Season 2009 will enjoy the 5 star hospitality of the airline while flying the good times to the Rainbow Nation.

"Kingfisher’s decision to extend the association with the DLF IPL further bears testimony to the fact that there is a huge global fan following for the league and I am certain now that a lot of Indians will partake of this unique offer from Kingfisher Airlines to make the trip over to South Africa to enjoy an action packed Season 2009.”

Kingfisher Airlines chairman and CEO Dr. Vijay Mallya said, “We are delighted to extend our partnership with the DLF Indian Premier League as the official airline and travel partner for Season 2009. Fans can expect to fly the good times in the Rainbow Nation as they follow the fortunes of their favourite IPL teams in South Africa.

"This extension of our agreement with the DLF Indian Premier League is further testimony of our commitment to Indian sports. I am certain that all the fans, players and officials of the DLF IPL will undoubtedly enjoy our hospitality and fly the good times during the thirty – six days of intense competition. I welcome all DLF IPL fans to sit back, relax and enjoy the Kingfisher experience.”

The DLF Indian Premier League is set to kick-off in Cape Town with a double-header weekend, which will see all eight teams pitted against each other. The double header on 18 April will see the winner of the inaugural season the Rajasthan Royals face-off against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, while the Mumbai Indians will do battle against the Chennai Super Kings. On 19 April the Deccan Chargers will face the Kolkata Knight Riders and the second game will see the Delhi Dare Devils take on Kings XI Punjab.