Toyota Motorsport GmbH announces official partnership with
Kingfisher Airlines
Toyota Motorsport GmbH and Kingfisher Airlines, India’s
fastest growing airline, today announced the signing of an
exciting new official partnership.
Multi award-winning Kingfisher Airlines will become an official
partner of Panasonic Toyota Racing as part of their multi-year
agreement starting in 2007. With immediate effect, the distinctive
‘Fly Kingfisher’ insignia will appear on the car,
drivers’ overalls and helmets and all corporate branding
platforms.
The deal was signed at the team’s pre-season event
at Expo XXI in Cologne, with Dr Vijay Mallya, Chairman and
CEO, Kingfisher Airlines Limited and Panasonic Toyota Racing
President John Howett announcing the partnership.
The deal, rated as one of corporate India’s biggest
overseas partnerships, marks the largest sports partnership
programme so far for the 21-month-old Kingfisher Airlines
and is the first time an airline based in India has partnered
on this scale with a Formula 1 team.
Kingfisher Airlines commenced operations with a brand new
fleet of aircraft on May 9 2005. Having started with just
four flights a day, today it offers 146 flights daily connecting
25 key Indian business and leisure destinations on a fleet
of 24 brand new aircraft.
The partnership means Kingfisher Airlines and Panasonic Toyota
Racing will co-operate to raise the profile of the team and
Formula 1 in India, while showcasing the Kingfisher Airlines
brand across the world.
Toyota Motorsport President John Howett said: “This
partnership is exciting news, not just for Panasonic Toyota
Racing but for Formula 1 in general. We hope this partnership
will strengthen Formula 1’s position in India and bring
Panasonic Toyota Racing to the people of India. We are pleased
to add another ambitious and successful brand like Kingfisher
Airlines to our partner portfolio and we will help them as
they expand into an international operation.”
Revealing the vision behind the partnership with a global
sports event on the scale of Formula 1, Dr Vijay Mallya, Chairman
and CEO, Kingfisher Airlines Ltd, commented: “Of all
the available partnership opportunities and platforms, Formula
1 is the most premium and the most visible one. This association
with Panasonic Toyota Racing will naturally enhance the image
of Kingfisher Airlines and catapult it to a league of select
and renowned international brands that typically support Formula
1 initiatives. The shared values of Kingfisher Airlines and
Formula 1 racing – a dedication to innovation, delighting
viewers and guests, and commitment to absolute excellence
– are highly complimentary. Additionally, we intend
to weave together a series of compelling consumer engagement
initiatives that will reward our guests flying on board Kingfisher
Airlines with free opportunities to watch Formula 1 races
live among other exciting rewards.”
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