Emirates flies in for Johnnie Walker Super Series

Emirates Airline was today confirmed as an Official Partner for the inaugural Johnnie Walker Super Series in Australia this October, which will see world champion Australia take on ICC World XI Test and One Day International teams.

Dubai-based Emirates is already the official airline of the ICC and naming rights sponsor of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Referees. This latest association will extend that well established relationship and see the airline appointed as official carrier of teams and officials for the Johnnie Walker Super Series.

Welcoming the announcement, ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said that Emirates was a long term and valued partner to world cricket: "Emirates Airline has established an excellent relationship with the ICC and its member countries in recent years and it is very pleasing to see that relationship strengthened further by this involvement with the Johnnie Walker Super Series. Australia is a long-haul destination for most of the players and officials involved in the event and I know that the quality and comfort provided by the Emirates international service will be much appreciated in that respect," said Mr Speed.

Commenting on the agreement, Ghaith Al Ghaith, Emirates Executive Vice-President Commercial Operations Worldwide, said: "We are delighted to have signed up as an Official Partner of what promises to be one of the most exciting sporting events of the year. We have demonstrated our support for top-class cricket for over three years now, through our relationship with the ICC."

Emirates is the third Official Partner to be announced for the event, joining Hero Honda, the world's largest manufacturer of two-wheelers and ABN AMRO, one of the ten largest banking groups in the world.

The Johnnie Walker Super Series will see world champion team Australia take on specially selected ICC World XI teams in three official One Day Internationals at Melbourne's Telstra Dome on 5, 7 and 9 October, followed by a six-day Super Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from 14 to 19 October.