Emirates offers complementary FIFA World Cup Soccer tickets

Official partner of 2006 football frenzy ties up with FIFA

BY A CORRESPONDENT
February 17, 2006

Emirates is offering complimentary tickets to its passengers for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ matches live in Germany. the airline believes the promo will endear it to the soccer-loving masses. Emirates is offering thousands of match tickets with its exclusive packages to Germany. The offer is effective immediately.

The Emirates 2006 World Cup offer has been meticulously put together by the airline and the FIFA authorities. Emirates travellers get a choice of flights to four German cities with over a 100 hotels to select from in the 12 FIFA host cities.

Emirates is an official partner of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. It has access to match tickets and is offering them as complimentary passes to its travellers booking packages to Germany or other chosen European metros with the airline to witness the sporting extravaganza.

Customers around the world can take advantage of the Dubai-based airline’s special deals to watch the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. These packages, starting from less than $1856.00 per person, include Emirates flights to one of the cities - Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Düsseldorf - or to Zurich, Paris or Vienna; two nights accommodation from a choice of one of 12 cities where 2006 FIFA World Cup™ matches are being played, and a complimentary match ticket to any of the games, including the final, subject to availability.

The FIFA World Cup™ is the world’s largest sporting event with some 30 billion television viewers in more than 210 countries expected to watch the tournament – but there is nothing like being there yourself and Emirates can offer its passengers that once-in-a-lifetime experience.

H Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said: “Emirates is extremely pleased to be able to offer its customers the opportunity to support their team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and to be a part of this spectacular tournament. Emirates has always believed in sports sponsorship as a way of
connecting with our passengers and sharing their passions, and what better way for us to demonstrate this than to offer our customers complimentary tickets to football’s showcase event, the 2006 FIFA World Cup?”

“Emirates has stated that the 2006 FIFA World Cup represents a great platform for us to expand our presence as a global brand alongside the other blue chip companies that sponsor this event. However, it is also extremely gratifying for us to be able to repay the custom and support of our passengers by offering them the chance to experience the live
action of the tournament. We look forward to both our existing and new customers enjoying the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ courtesy of Emirates Airline.”

Joseph S. Blatter, President FIFA, said of the Emirates packages: “Emirates is the first airline ever to partner with FIFA and we can immediately see the benefits that having such a partner brings to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Other than promoting the event globally through their marketing activities, Emirates also has the ability to fly football fans into its four destinations in Germany from all over the world via their Dubai hub, and will bring many thousands of visitors to the tournament.

“The offer of complimentary tickets to their passengers is an offer that just can’t be bettered and we are extremely pleased to have Emirates on board as an Official Partner of 2006 FIFA World Cup™ and we know they will contribute greatly to the success of the event.”

The Emirates 2006 FIFA World Cup™ package offers include a return air ticket, which may be booked in Economy, Business or First Class, airport and airline taxes and surcharges, hotel accommodation, taxes and service fees and a complimentary FIFA World Cup™ match ticket – all of which are subject to availability. The offer does not include visas, airport transfers or transfers to the football stadia.

The offers are valid for all matches between 9th June 2006 to 9th July 2006 for all of the 64 FIFA World Cup™ matches, including the final, and passengers can opt to watch one or more of the matches in Germany, as long as they meet booking requirements and reserve their hotel accommodation through Emirates at the time of booking.

Hotel accommodation (room-only basis), in either 2, 3, 4 or 5 star properties, is offered on the basis of a minimum stay of two nights and is available in cities where 2006 FIFA World Cup™ matches are played: Hamburg, Hanover, Berlin, Gelsenkirchen, Dortmund, Leipzig, Cologne, Frankfurt, Kaiserslautern, Nuremberg, Stuttgart or Munich.

The Emirates 2006 FIFA World Cup™ Offers are available immediately to Emirates passengers and may be booked via travel agents or from Emirates directly.

In Dubai, passengers can book via their travel agents, Emirates’ travel hubs, or the airline’s call centre on 04 214 4444.