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Etihad Airways has signed to become the official front of shirt sponsor of Mumbai City FC in a multi-year partnership starting from the 2024-25 season. The move reflects Etihad’s continued commitment to the Indian market and Mumbai City’s profile as one of the top performing professional sports teams in India, having won two Indian Super League titles and two Indian Super League Cups. The deal, which is a record in Indian football in terms of duration, coincides with Etihad’s celebration of 20 years of flying in India and will see the Etihad Airways logo prominently appear on the front of the shirts of Mumbai City FC’s first and youth team match shirts and training kits from the 2024-25 season.
The partnership builds on decades-old ties between the home countries of the two organisations and reinforces shared values of teamwork and excellence. Both the club and the airline aim to bring people together and give flight to ambition.
Kandarp Chandra, CEO, Mumbai City FC, said, “We are extremely pleased to have Etihad on board as our Official Front of Shirt Sponsor. Their support is a testament to Mumbai City’s brand of football – one that is committed to performance and the pursuit of excellence on and off the field. Both Etihad and Mumbai City are proud to represent resilient global cities that strike a balance between tradition and modernity.”
Antonaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said, “We strive to enrich our presence in the Indian market through relevant and meaningful partnerships, and we are thrilled to welcome Mumbai City FC to the Etihad family. India remains a strategically important market for Etihad and we are committed to serving the Indian community with convenient connections to 11 destinations across India and the Middle East, Europe and North America.”
Etihad will celebrate 20 years of flying to India this month and from September 1, Etihad’s A380 aircraft will fly between Mumbai and Abu Dhabi to demonstrate its commitment to growth in India. Guests will have the chance to experience the iconic superjumbo on this popular route for four months.
The airline flies to 11 destinations across India, including four times daily flights to Mumbai, offering convenient connections to Abu Dhabi and beyond. In total, Etihad operates 175 flights per week between Abu Dhabi and India.
Neves further added, “Through our partnership with Mumbai City FC, we hope to bring joy to the football-loving community across Mumbai.”
About Mumbai City FC
Mumbai City FC, formed in August 2014, is a club participating in the Indian Super League (ISL) – the top tier of Indian football. The club also participates in the Super Cup (since 2017) and the Durand Cup (since 2022). The Islanders, as the club is fondly known, is the only club in India to have won the unique ‘double’ in the 2020/21 season, i.e. winning the ISL League and the ISL Cup. The club has also won the ISL League Shield in 2022/23 and the ISL Cup in 2023/24, making it a huge achievement for the club to win four trophies.
In Asia, Mumbai City FC will compete in the AFC Champions League in the 2022 and 2023/24 seasons and became the first Indian club to win the continent’s premier club competition.
In November 2019, Mumbai City FC became part of City Football Group (CFG) when the group acquired a majority stake in the club, adding Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor and businessman Bimal Parekh as co-owners. The club joins Manchester City FC, New York City FC, Melbourne City FC and other clubs in the CFG family.
Mumbai City FC plays its home matches at the Mumbai Football Arena in Andheri, Mumbai. The club’s crest features key elements that represent the city of Mumbai and is a reflection of the city’s dynamism and relentless attitude, as well as the modern values that define the city and the club.
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, was formed in 2003 and quickly became one of the world’s leading airlines. From its headquarters in Abu Dhabi, Etihad flies to passenger and cargo destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. Together with Etihad’s codeshare partners, Etihad’s network provides access to hundreds of international destinations. In recent years, Etihad has received numerous awards for its superior service and products, cargo offering, loyalty program and more. Etihad sees tackling the climate crisis as the most important issue of our time and was named Airline Ratings Environmental Airline of the Year for the third consecutive year in 2024. It has invested billions in fuel-efficient aircraft. Through strategic partnerships with leading global aviation brands and OEMs, Etihad is relentless in its quest to decarbonise the industry.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a press release)
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