Turkish Airlines Announced as Official Partner of European Rugby Champions Cup & Challenge Cup

[Pakistan, Monday 9h November’15]: Turkish Airlines is delighted to announce that they have become an official partner of the European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. The agreement between the organisers of European Professional Club Rugby and the world-renowned national airline of Turkey will run for three years until the end of the 2017/18 season.

The announcement was made earlier during EPCR’s Tournament Launch for the 2015/16 season at the Twickenham Stoop which was attended by key rugby players and media as well as high-profile representatives of clubs competing in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.

With its headquarters in Istanbul, Turkish Airlines is the fourth-largest airline in the world based on the number of its destinations and also the fact that it flies to more countries than any other airline.

EPCR Chairman, Simon Halliday said: “The fact that we are joining forces with a truly global brand is great news for European club rugby. We believe that the new-look Champions Cup and Challenge Cup made great strides in the inaugural season, and now to have an ambitious, dynamic partner on board such as Turkish Airlines is a major boost for the tournaments.

While this is the company’s first rugby sponsorship, Turkish Airlines has been associated with top-class sport for many years and we are certain that they will be a factor in broadening the base of club rugby in Europe and bringing the game to new, enthusiastic fans.”

M. Ilker Ayci, Chairman of Turkish Airlines said: “We are delighted to announce our long-term sponsorship with the European Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. This partnership reinforces Turkish Airlines’ position as the ‘Europe’s Best Airline’* and demonstrates our continued commitment to sport in the UK and across the whole world.”
Turkish Airlines currently sponsored the Bundesliga Club, Borussia Dortmund, and has been the title sponsor of basketball’s Turkish Airlines Euroleague since 2010. Last year, the airline became the main sponsor of Japan’s national basketball league, the Turkish Airlines BJ-league, and it is also the title sponsor of the Turkish Airlines Open on golf’s European Tour.

The 2015/16 European club rugby season kicks off on Thursday, 12th November with the Challenge Cup meeting of Harlequins and Montpellier at the Twickenham Stoop. The Champions Cup gets underway the following evening – Friday, 13th November – when Leicester Tigers and Top 14 winners, Stade Francais Paris, clash at Welford Road. EPCR’s 2016 finals will be staged at the Grand Stade de Lyon on the 13 and 14 May.
Skytrax Survey of 2015

About Turkish Airlines:
Established in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, Star Alliance member Turkish Airlines is a 4-star airline today with a fleet of 277 (passenger and cargo) aircraft flying to 274 destinations worldwide with 226 international and 48 domestic. According to Skytrax survey of 2014, Turkish Airlines was chosen “Europe’s Best Airline” for the fourth and “Best Airline in Southern Europe” for the sixth consecutive time. Having won in 2010 the world’s “Best Economy Catering Service” and in 2013 the world’s “Best Business Catering Service” awards, Turkish Airlines was this year awarded the world’s “Best Business Catering Service” and “Best Business Class Lounge Dining” prizes in the Skytrax survey. More information about Turkish Airlines can be found on www.turkishairlines.com.

About Star Alliance:
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline alliance to offer worldwide reach, recognition and seamless service to the international traveller. Its acceptance by the market has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award and Best Airline Alliance by both Business Traveller Magazine and Skytrax. The member airlines are: Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI and United. The integration of Avianca Brasil is currently in progress. Overall, the Star Alliance network currently offers more than 18,500 daily flights to 1,321 airports in 193 countries For additional information visit www.staralliance.com and/or follow on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube or LinkedIn.