Kingfisher Airlines becomes official Airline of the DLF IPL

Mumbai, Apr 9 (ANI/Business Wire India): The DLF Indian Premier League (IPL) today announced that Kingfisher Airlines, the country's only 5 Star Airline has been chosen as the official Airline for the league.

The appointment as the official airline partner is in addition to Kingfisher Airlines' earlier commitment to the DLF IPL as the Umpire Partner.

As per the official airline partner agreement, Kingfisher Airlines will extend its world-class, award-winning hospitality to all teams of the DLF IPL and BCCI officials. Also on offer will be dedicated check-in counters, VIP lounge access, an exclusive ground handling team at all airports and a special helpline number for all air travel needs.

"I am very pleased to have the country's premier 5 star airline Kingfisher Airlines join us as our official Airline partner. I am certain that the cricketers and officials alike will enjoy the 5 star hospitality of the airline while flying the good times across the country getting from one match to another," said Lalit Modi, Chairman and Commissioner, DLF IPL.

"Their decision to extend the association beyond being umpire partners further bears testimony to the fact that the DLF IPL is here to stay and is set to carve out a distinct niche for itself in the international cricketing calendar," he added.

Dr. Vijay Mallya, Chairman and CEO, Kingfisher Airlines Limited said, "We are delighted to extend our partnership with the DLF IPL as the official airline partner. Our multi-year agreement with the DLF IPL is further testimony of our commitment to Indian sports."

"I am certain that all the players and officials of the DLF IPL will undoubtedly enjoy our hospitality and fly the good times during the forty-four days of intense competition. The DLF IPL is a highly innovative concept and the Twenty20 format will undoubtedly take cricket's popularity to a new high. I welcome all DLF IPL guests to sit back, relax and enjoy the Kingfisher experience," he added.

Kingfisher Airlines has a long association with a variety of sports at both the domestic and international level including Tennis, Formula One, Polo and now Cricket.

Earlier Leading sports broadcaster Sony Max and World Sport Group had bagged DLF IPL's global media and production rights for 1.026 billion dollars. DLF limited, country's leading real estate company is the league's title sponsor, while Hero Honda, the country's largest two-wheeler maker, won the Co-Sponsorship rights for the cricket extravaganza. PepsiCo India, one of the country's leading beverage companies, has been chosen as the Official Beverage Supplier and Kingfisher Airlines, the country's only 5 Star Airline, is the Official Umpire Partner for the league.

The DLF IPL is ready to kick off on April 18th 2008, with some high voltage action expected between Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkata franchise and Dr. Vijay Mallya's Royal Challengers of Bangalore at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium at Bangalore.

The DLF IPL will feature eight Franchises and will run for 44 days. Each Franchise will play others on a home and away basis with 7 matches at home. The top 4 Franchises in the league will contest the semi-finals and the victorious semi-finalists will meet in the Grand Final all over one weekend, which will be played out in Mumbai.

The inaugural season of the DLF Indian Premier League will showcase a grand total of 59 matches providing broadcasters and in-stadia spectators with 177 hours of live "family entertainment", which will also be viewed by a significant international audience. All matches will be during late afternoon and evening to coincide with prime time for television and providing a convenient time for the stadium audience.

ANI