February 21 – FC Bayern München and Qatar Airways have agreed a new partnership with the airline becoming a Bayern platinum partner from July 2018 until 2023, replacing Lufthansa whose current agreement expires end June 2018.
In addition, the current agreement between Hamad International Airport and the Bavarian club, which was agreed in January 2016 and which includes shirt sleeve sponsorship, will now be transferred in its entirety to Qatar Airways.
Bayern München marketing director Andreas Jung said: “FC Bayern München would like to thank their partner Lufthansa and especially chairman Carsten Spohr for the good, professional and always trustful cooperation. We wish Lufthansa great success and all the best for the future.”
According to Jung, “Qatar Airways is currently expanding and opening up new destinations in the Asian and American markets, which will help us to achieve internationalization, and we will be able to develop joint strategies.”
The deal is a level below Bayern’s main sponsors Adidas, Telekom, Audi and Allianz but is reportedly worth over the €10 million a year paid by Hamad International Airport.
The deal underlines the Qatar flagship airline’s determination to expand its operations to defeat the regional blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt and comes as the airline took delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000 jet which will allow it to offer longer flights to more destinations.
Bayern recently rode out criticism from some quarters for having held training camps in Qatar, arguing that they have had a long term football relationship with the Qataris.
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