Virgin Australia extends partnership with the AFL

-hPwGKmjeLa-smo5hyWYXMp64doxCeyPrkRWc82aWXE,52BUSmHanmGSJGzrWEJ5NU3EVIwmqFKTR9m_aoVG4kc — Virgin Australia will further its interests in AFL through extending its role as official airline. (Seth Jaworski)

Virgin Australia has maintained its hold on AFL sponsorship, announcing it has entered a new five-year agreement as official airline of the AFL through to 2018.

In addition, the agreement will see Virgin Australia becoming Naming Rights Partner of the AFL Grand Final Half Time entertainment, the Premiership Party and the Grand Final Week Party.

In its role as the official airline of the AFL since January 2011, Virgin Australia carries the 18 AFL teams across Australia and overseas.

Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti said the partnership had gone from strength to strength since its launch almost three years ago. “It is a great honour to be the official airline of Australia’s most popular sport, especially during such an exciting period of growth and expansion for the game,” adding that over the last three years the airline had carried AFL teams on more than 450 flights and launched initiatives to promote the sport and reward its fans.

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said: “There’s no question the AFL and the broader Australian football community has benefitted enormously from the partnership we’ve enjoyed with Virgin Australia since 2011.”