Riyadh Air signs multi-year sponsorship deal with Atlético de Madrid

Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air has signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with Atlético de Madrid, making the carrier the main and official airline partner for the Spanish soccer club.

“It is an incredibly exciting day for Riyadh Air as we enter into a long-term partnership with Atlético de Madrid, one of Europe’s greatest clubs, to become their main and official airline partner,” said Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air.

“We believe that this partnership is a perfect match, as both Riyadh Air and Atletico share a commitment to excellence and a passion for connecting people and cultures around the world.”

The partnership marks a significant milestone for both parties and is the first sports sponsorship that Riyadh Air has signed since its official launch in March.

The Riyadh-based carrier said the strategic deal brings together two entities that share a passion for excellence, and innovation and will allow Riyadh Air and Atlético Madrid to reach millions of fans around the world. Both the airline and the football club did not disclose the value of the sponsorship deal.

“This partnership signifies a great opportunity to offer better experiences to our fans around the world and I am confident that this alliance with Riyadh Air will elevate our club to new heights,” said Miguel Ángel Gil, CEO of Atlético de Madrid.

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s newest carrier

Meanwhile, Riyadh Air, which will start flights in 2025, is owned by Saudi Arabia’s wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund. The carrier will serve more than 100 destinations around the world by 2030, leveraging the kingdom’s location between Asia, Africa and Europe.

The new airline is expected to add $20bn to Saudi Arabia’s non-oil GDP growth and create more than 200,000 jobs both directly and indirectly. Riyadh Air unveiled its livery on its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in June. The airline said that the livery is “a perfect blend of cutting-edge technology and timeless elegance”.

Riyadh Air plans to buy more planes following the purchase of 39 Boeing 787-9 widebody jets in March, with options for 33 more.

Read: Riyadh Air starts to build fleet, orders Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners