Flybe, Europe’s largest independent regional airline, which recently announced four brand new ski routes from Cardiff Airport, has signed a major sponsorship deal to support Cardiff City’s winter and Christmas celebrations.
Under the sponsorship deal, Flybe will be the main sponsor for Cardiff City’s Winter Wonderland attraction this year. The deal follows the recent announcement that airline will operate four brand new ski routes from Cardiff Airport from December 21, to Chambery, Geneva, Grenoble and Lyon.
Simon Lilley, Flybe’s director of marketing, said: ‘We are delighted to be the main sponsor of this year’s Winter Wonderland. It reflects Flybe’s commitment to Cardiff as well as our philosophy of supporting the local communities in which we operate. Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland provides the perfect venue to profile our new direct winter ski routes from Wales. They offer travel from people’s doorsteps by their local airline from their local airport, saving valuable time, money and the hassle of having to trek out of the country and endure long hours of winter travel before they even start their holiday.’
Mr Lilley added: ‘The start of our four new ski routes and the city’s magical Winter Wonderland attraction complement each other perfectly. We are proud to have the opportunity to highlight our routes in this special way and together with our partners, Cardiff Airport, we look forward to welcoming many new passengers on board this winter and making these new routes a success.’
Chief executive of Cardiff Airport, Jon Horne, said: ‘We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Flybe on the sponsorship of such an integral element of the Christmas celebrations within South Wales. The Winter Wonderland is an iconic event and hugely popular, we hope the new look attraction along with the support from Flybe and the airport will ensure that this is the best winter yet.
‘Ultimately the event will help to increase awareness of the new Flybe routes this winter and I want to encourage people to choose Cardiff when booking a ski getaway.’
Flybe’s Winter Wonderland will be open between November 14, 2013, and January 5, 2014.
Flybe, in partnership with Cardiff Airport, will be prominent at the open-air ice rink operated by Welsh events specialists, Sayers Amusements, and run by Olympic gold medallist and ‘Dancing on Ice’ judge, Robin Cousins.
Flybe operates a total of eight flights from Cardiff Airport, with a choice of up to 91 flights a week, including to Belfast City, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and its four new ski routes.