Oman Air has announced a significant new sponsorship deal with Chelsea FC. The partnership marks the beginning of Oman Air serving as the club's global airline partner for the next three years.
Chelsea is one of the most widely supported football clubs in Oman and one of the highest-ranking clubs in the English Premier League. The agreement will see Oman Air place its branding at the team's home stadium at Stamford Bridge and debut a specially designed co-branded livery, to be unveiled later this year.
The Chelsea Dreamliner
The flag carrier of the Sultanate of Oman has chosen one of its Boeing 787-9s as the aircraft to feature the football club's colors. The aircraft will be used on the carrier's daily service From Muscat (MCT), the capital city of Oman, to London Heathrow.
This unique new livery features the Chelsea FC logo on the tail, with the Oman Air branding moved to the engine. The aircraft's fuselage is painted in Chelsea colors and has the names of the airline and football team above the slogan "Pride of London" in reference to the team's base in Fulham, West London.
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The 787-9 is configured in three classes. In the front are eight first class suits featuring a fully flat bed. This is followed by 24 business seats, with the remaining 232 seats in economy class. Chelsea FC chief executive, Chris Jurasek, expressed their excitement for the new partnership:
"We are very pleased to welcome Oman Air as our Official Airline Partner. We have a shared ambition for innovation and success both on and off the pitch, and we are excited to bring this partnership to life for our fans around the world."
The airline currently has seven of the 787-9 Dreamliners at its disposal, in addition to its two 787-8s. Oman Air's fleet consists of 51 aircraft, including seven Airbus A330 widebodies and several variations of the Boeing 737.
Oman Air and sports
Although this is Oman Air's first-ever Premier League club partnership, the airline has a long track record in sports sponsorships. Locally, the airline has a longstanding collaboration with Oman Football Association that spans over a decade. The airline also supports Oman Sail, Oman Golf Association, Oman Desert Marathon, and Oman's Paralympic Team.
Its partnership with Chelsea FC is destined to capitalize on the team's significant worldwide following. The Premier League is considered the most followed and well know football league globally, with a seasonal audience of over 3 billion people. The new partnership will place the carrier's branding at Stamford Bridge and across the club's digital platforms. The two companies will also collaborate on exclusive experiences and events.
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The Omani carrier is a crucial player in the country's tourism strategy and is set to join the oneworld alliance by the end of next year. Eng. Abdulaziz Al Raisi, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, explained some of the factors that went into this new partnership:
“We are extremely proud of this valuable collaboration, which not only celebrates the love for football but also presents a remarkable opportunity to showcase the beauty, culture and hospitality of Oman to Chelsea’s extensive fan base. With an astonishing 135 million fans, 85% of whom are in international markets, we are offered an unparalleled platform to cultivate awareness of Oman in new markets across the globe, not just on match days, but well beyond,”
“This partnership marks an exciting new chapter and we are honoured to be associated with such a formidable team, while elevating Oman’s position as a must-visit tourist destination.”
Elsewhere, the carrier recently reintroduced services to the Maldives. It will utilize its 162-seat 737 MAX 8s on the route, which runs four times weekly.