Emirates scores another ace, returning as the Official Airline of the Australian Open for another five years
Emirates scores another ace, returning as the Official Airline of the Australian Open for another five years
As part of the renewal, Emirates and the Australian Tennis Foundation will also join forces to support social impact initiatives across Australia
Emirates returns to the Australian Open 2025 with a wealth of experiences hosted by Emirates, including Kids Tennis Day, Emirates Day and the return of Emirates’ hospitality suite
Dubai, UAE, 05 December 2024 (Thursday) – Emirates announced a five-year renewal of its longstanding partnership with Tennis Australia, remaining as the Official Airline of the Australian Open until 2029.
Emirates marked a decade as the Official Airline of the Australian Open this year, celebrating its ongoing commitment to Australia and support for local sporting events. Since partnering with Tennis Australia in 2015, Emirates has remained steadfast in its mission to bring tennis fans and players closer, sharing unforgettable moments at the matches.
From 2025, the partnership will extend outside of the Australian Open to make a meaningful impact within local communities in need. Emirates and the Australian Tennis Foundation (ATF) have teamed up on an initiative funded by the airline’s ‘Force for Good’ programme. Emirates will invest $2.25 million over five years to inspire brighter futures for disadvantaged children and young people through tennis.
The programme will launch in five key Australian cities, focusing on children and young people from underprivileged backgrounds who might otherwise miss the opportunity to engage with the sport. Using tennis as a powerful tool to promote both physical and mental wellbeing, the partnership aims to foster a sense of belonging for disadvantaged youth. Over the next five years, the initiative will deliver free tennis programs, offering a structured and supportive environment where young participants can develop not only their sporting skills but also essential life skills such as resilience, teamwork and social connection. Through this collaboration, Emirates and the ATF aim to break down barriers, providing these young people with much-needed resources and opportunities to thrive.
Emirates’ Divisional Vice President Australasia, Barry Brown, said, “Our five-year renewal with Tennis Australia on top of an existing decade-long partnership is another demonstration of Emirates’ longstanding commitment to Australia, in line with almost three decades of service since our inaugural flight to Melbourne.
“We’re proud to work with Tennis Australia and connect incredible players to fans both globally and on the ground in Australia. The Australian Open is an event that sits at the cornerstone of Australia’s sporting calendar, and we are excited to provide fans with unique experiences for the next edition and in the years ahead.
“This year, our commitment extends beyond the court, with the ‘Force for Good’ programme, which will ensure that local communities have a range of opportunities to get on the court, as well as opening up the sport of tennis to many more people. It also means we will be able to provide education and skills to budding young tennis players, to not only help and inspire them, but also pave the way for future tennis stars in Australia.”
Australian Open Tournament Director and Tennis Australia CEO, Craig Tiley, said, “We are delighted to continue our longstanding partnership with Emirates, which has been a cornerstone of the Australian Open and Tennis Australia for more than a decade.
“This renewed commitment reinforces the vital role Emirates plays in connecting our players, people and events to the rest of the world.
“We are especially pleased to announce the new Emirates’ Force for Good initiative, which alongside the Australian Tennis Foundation, will provide opportunities and support for disadvantaged young people across the country.”
Executive Director of the Australian Tennis Foundation, Vicki Reid, said, “We are excited to join forces with Emirates to support social impact initiatives across Australia.
“The multi-year partnership will uplift and support tens of thousands of disadvantaged youth through the power of tennis.”
Emirates’ tennis sponsorship portfolio proudly includes all four Grand Slams – the Australian Open, US Open, Roland Garros (French Open) and Wimbledon, as well as 60 other tournaments across the year through the airline’s partnership with the ATP. With its global reach, Emirates’ ‘Force for Good’ initiative will also support social impact initiatives across the UK and the US where it has joined forces with Wimbledon and the United States Tennis Association to support local communities.
From Anywhere to Centre Court: Emirates and the Australian Open 2025
Emirates flies tennis fans one-stop in comfort and style to and from 40 European destinations, so travellers can catch an Emirates flight from Melbourne in the early morning, have breakfast in Australia, lunch in Dubai and dinner in Europe.
Paying tribute to the European connectivity offered by the airline, the return of Emirates’ hospitality suite this year will highlight five European destinations including London, Dublin, Rome, Athens and Paris. As the go-to for celebrities and invited guests at the Australian Open 2025, the suite promises to embody neoclassical European architectural details and a menu inspired by top European destinations.
This year, the airline will also maintain its sponsorship of the iconic AO Ballpark presented by Emirates, set to officially open on Kids Tennis Day presented by Emirates on Saturday 11 January. The AO Ballpark presented by Emirates will be themed as an airport and includes a variety of interactive games and activities, including the Emirates Explorers and Litte Traveller zones.
Emirates is also proud to present Emirates Day on Tuesday 14 January, with a range of #FlyBetterMoments for spectators – such as meeting its iconic Cabin Crew and having a polaroid snap taken to celebrate the Australian Open partnership.
Emirates’ multi award-winning inflight entertainment system ice also means tennis fans in the air won’t miss a moment of the Australian Open 2025. Matches will be aired live on Sport 24 onboard the aircraft, as well as in the A380 onboard lounges, and across dedicated Emirates airport lounges. Emirates’ flights to and from Australia in January will also feature special Australian Open 2025 branding, including themed menus, coasters, and headrest covers.
The airline’s Skywards Platinum and Gold members can watch the action live with Skywards Exclusives. Starting from 30,000 Miles, members can purchase hospitality tickets to watch the action-packed Grand Slam from 12 to 21 January, 2025.
Offering three daily services between Melbourne and Dubai, including two A380 services, Emirates will be a connector of tennis players and fans to the Australian Open 2025. The Emirates A380 redefines luxury travel, offering unparalleled world-class service, epitomising comfort, and delivering unforgettable experiences to every passenger on board.
Emirates in Australia
Emirates has been serving Australia for almost three decades, transporting over 40 million passengers to and from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide via its Dubai hub. Currently operating 77 weekly return services to Australia and offering over 68,000 seats to and from its five major gateways, Emirates operates three daily return services from Dubai to Melbourne and Sydney, two daily flights to Brisbane and Perth, and a daily service to Adelaide. Emirates also facilitates ever important cargo to and from Australia, serving as a critical airlink to help increase investment flows and realise the benefits of the CEPA agreement between the UAE and Australia.
Customers of Emirates and Qantas have access to an expansive network of destinations thanks to the codeshare partnership between the two airlines. Together, Emirates and Qantas provide customers access to more than 120 codeshare destinations, including 60 points across Australia and New Zealand. Qantas customers can fly with Emirates to Dubai and access over 65 cities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Emirates and Qantas have jointly carried more than 15 million passengers totalling 543,000 flights in the last ten years.
About Emirates’ sponsorships in Australia
With sponsorships spanning literature, film, art, culinary, music festivals and globally renowned orchestras, Emirates is dedicated to supporting the growth and reach of cultural activities in Australia and around the world.
Beginning with the sponsorship of Collingwood Football Club in 1999, Emirates has gone on to sponsor various sports teams and events in Australia, from the Australian Open to Australian Rules Football, as well as becoming Partner of the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane in 2022. Emirates is passionate about connecting communities and bringing the world together through sport.
Outside of sports, last year Emirates further solidified its commitment to supporting arts and culture in Australia by extending its 21-year partnership with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra until 2025. A cornerstone of its ongoing support to music and arts around the world, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra is the airline’s longest-running non-sports partnership.
Emirates also proudly sponsors the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, including its recent exhibition, taypani milaythina-tu: Return to Country. The partnership saw Emirates transport a precious Aboriginal object from Paris to Tasmania, 230 years after it was first removed. The artefact, a rikawa (kelp water carrier), is only one of two known to be in existence, and its new home at the museum will allow the Tasmanian Aboriginal community to reconnect with their cultural history.
For more information on Emirate’s sponsorship visit: https://www.emirates.com/au/english/about-us/our-communities/sponsorship/
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About Emirates
The Emirates story started in 1985 when we launched operations with just two aircraft. Today, we fly the world’s biggest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, offering our customers the comforts of the latest and most efficient wide-body aircraft in the skies.
We inspire travellers around the world with our growing network of worldwide destinations, industry leading inflight entertainment, regionally inspired cuisine, and world-class service.
For more information see www.emirates.com/zm and www.emirates.com/zw
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