Bangkok--21 Mar--AirAsia
AirAsia is forging ahead to push Thai football forward, joining hands with the Football Association of Thailand to officially sponsor the travel of Thai Premier League referees both financially and with transport for the entirety of the 2012 season, providing convenience and readiness to the referees overseeing each match.
Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia, reiterated AirAsia’s continued commitment to social programs, especially to the support of sports both on the domestic and international level. In 2011, AirAsia sponsored many of Thailand’s leading football clubs both in the Thai Premier League and Division 1. Internationally, the AirAsia Group officially sponsored the Queens Park Rangers of the English Premier League as well as the Lotus F1 racing team. These activities confirm AirAsia’s complete dedication to supporting sports.
Tassapon stated that “This year, AirAsia will fully realize its Sports Marketing policy with an array of activities to strengthen the tie between sports fans and the airline. We will be using our capabilities to aid in the development of Thai football and this year we are proud to be the official travel facilitators of the Thai Premier League’s 2012 season referees. Acknowledging their importance, AirAsia will be providing the referees convenient, safety and comfortable air travel so that they can be at their best on the pitch, raising the standard of each match and giving fans a better game.”
The Thai Premier League’s referees will be sponsored both financially and with air travel along all of AirAsia’s routes. The referees will travel with AirAsia’s fleet of new planes for the entirety of the season at a value of over 6 million baht. AirAsia’s logo will be present on the jerseys of the referees during every Thai Premier League match.
Football Association of Thailand President Worawee Makudi noted that over the past 3-4 years, Thai football has experienced rapid growth with strong support from both the public and private sectors in all areas. Worawee emphasized that the formation of a competitive league and the sport’s growing fan base are successes that underline the need for further determination.
Worawee stated “AirAsia’s sponsorship of the Thai Premier League’s referees this year is a highly welcomed decision as referees are a key component to the game. Now, when traveling to matches in the provinces, the referees will have access to the convenience and comfort of AirAsia’s services, which span all regions of Thailand. The better prepared referees will lift the standard of each game and of Thai football as a whole.”
Beyond this sponsorship, AirAsia is planning an array of projects to support the upcoming seasons of the Thai Premier League and Division 1. Fan club prizes will be returning from previous seasons, adding to the cheering experience and creating an exciting atmosphere around regional fan clubs to further promote Thai football.
About AirAsia
AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with approximately 139 routes. Within 10 years of operations, AirAsia has carried over 100 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to approximately 106. The airline today is proud to be a truly ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines servicing a network stretching across all ASEAN countries, China, India, Sri Lanka and Australia. This is further complemented by AirAsia X, its low-cost long-haul affiliate carrier that currently flies to destinations in China, India, Australia, Taiwan? Iran, Korea, UK, Japan, France and New Zealand. AirAsia was named the World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for three consecutive years (2009, 2010, 2011).
For more information, contact AirAsia Communications:
Krittiyawadee Pongpanich
[email protected]
Nuttawut Jitardharn
[email protected]
Piyasuda Archasantisuk
[email protected]