Turkish Delight For Red Devils

Manchester United have launched a new partnership with Turkish Airlines, the club's official airline partner.

Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Nani, Ji-sung Park and Darren Fletcher joined Chief Executive David Gill, Director of Commercial Richard Arnold, Turkish Airlines Chairman Hamdi Topcu, and Co–Chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi at Old Trafford on Monday to reveal details of the sponsorship.

The three-and-a-half year deal will see the airline's fleet livery carry the Manchester United crest as well as other iconic club and player imagery on the airline's fuselage, while Europe's fourth-largest Airline will transport the team and officials on their travels for Champions League matches and other tournaments and training camps throughout Europe and the world. The airline will also receive a number of rights from the deal, including perimeter board advertising at Old Trafford and consumer promotions using the club's intellectual properties.

David Gill said: "The deal with Turkish Airlines is yet another example of the global appeal of Manchester United and we welcome them to the club, already they are proving to be a dynamic and committed partner which will no doubt allow us to further develop the reach of Manchester United and for Turkish Airlines to grow their customer base in Manchester and around the world."

Richard Arnold said: "We have been impressed with Turkish Airlines, who are a creative and ambitious company, they have very exciting plans to make the most of the comprehensive sponsorship rights their partnership with the club brings and we are looking forward to working closely with them.

Hamdi Topcu said: "It is a great honour for Turkish Airlines to be associated with Manchester United as the team's official airline sponsor and I am confident the partnership will make an excellent contribution to our brand value. Like Manchester United we aim to be the very best in everything we do with first class quality of service in all aspects of our business. We are very excited about the commercial opportunities that the sponsorship will offer the airline working alongside one of the most famous football clubs in the world."

Turkish Airlines was formed in 1933 and today flies to 120 destinations worldwide, transporting over 25 million passengers. The airline, which is a Star Alliance Member and operates the only four star cabin service in all classes within Europe, has recently announced plans to grow its fleet to 196 aircraft within the next five years.