Turkish Airlines to Sponsor Barcelona
By Do Je-hae
Staff Reporter
Turkey's national carrier, Turkish Airlines, signed a three-season sponsorship deal with one of the world's most successful football teams, Barcelona, the airline said Monday.
Temel Kotil, CEO of Turkish Airlines, said during a press conference that the sponsorship is a step closer to becoming a global brand.
The airline will spend 7.7 million euros for the right to place its logos on the billboards at Barcelona's home stadium, Camp Nou, and all other locations of the team's games. In addition, it will fly the Spanish club's players to their tournaments and conduct relevant promotional events.
The deal reflects the airline's goal to establish itself as one of the biggest carriers on routes between the Middle East and Europe, Kotil said.
It is the largest carrier in Southern Europe and one of the few worldwide that managed to grow during the financial crisis that hit the aviation sector hard, he added.
Turkish Airlines flies from Seoul to Istanbul three times a week, and travelers can transfer to Athens, Greece.
Passenger numbers on Turkish Airlines were up 11 per cent to 25.1 million in 2009, according to official figures recently released by the airline.
Turkish Airlines has been a member of the world's largest airline network, Star Alliance, since 2007. It has pursued an aggressive expansion plan, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. By 2012, the airline aims to have 40 million passengers annually.