airBaltic became an official carrier for EuroBasket 2011

08.03.2011 06:08 | Latvia

Author: Janis Vanags
Source: A/S Air Baltic Corporation

Last week Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LBF) and airBaltic signed an agreement for airBaltic to become LBF sponsor for the year 2011 as well as the official carrier for European Basketball Championship.

“This cooperation is very important for us. It will contribute to ensuring fast and convenient connections for participants, federation employees, and guests. The event is going to be huge, therefore, it must have a trustworthy carrier and we are very happy to sign the agreement with airBaltic. It is important that airBaltic will be promoting the championship in foreign countries“, said Vladas Garastas, President at LBF.

Tadas Vizgirda, airBaltic Executive Vice President and General Manager in Lithuania: “We are happy to sign this agreement. We truly believe that basketball is the most effective mean of spreading the news about Lithuania, increasing the interest in our country, and attracting more tourists. We are looking forward to the European basketball championship not only because it is an event of substantial interest and importance, but it also is a fresh stimulus to our economy and aviation. We will make every effort to promote Eurobasket 2011 abroad”.

A special airBaltic Bombardier Q400 NextGen plane was decorated with a logo of EuroBasket. Its first flight was Paris, and it will be flying to various airBaltic European destinations until the end of the championship. Every passenger on the flight was given the first tickets to championship match with the French team.

European basketball championship will take place from August 31th to September 18th in six Lithuanian cities: Vilnius, Kaunas, Šiauliai, Klaipėda, Panevėžys, and Alytus. 24 best teams from European countries will be competing in 90 matches for medals and passes to Olympic Games.

airBaltic flies from three Lithuanian airports – Vilnius, Kaunas and Palanga. airBaltic serves 80 destinations from its home base at Riga, Latvia. From every one of these, airBaltic offers convenient connections via North Hub Riga to its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, CIS and the Middle East.

airBalticin brief:

AIR BALTIC CORPORATION (airBaltic) is a joint stock company that was established in 1995. The primary shareholders are the Latvian state, with 52.6% of stock, and SIA Baltijas aviācijas sistēmas, with 47.2% of stock. The airBaltic fleet consists of 34 aircraft – six Boeing 737-500, eight Boeing 737-300, two Boeing 757-200, ten Fokker 50 airplanes and eight Bombardier Q400Next Gen. airBaltic offers nonstop flights from three Baltic capital cities – Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn. airBaltic received the title of Airline of the Year 2009/2010 (Gold Award) from the European Regions Airline Association. airBaltic is the winner of Air Transport World Phoenix Award 2010 – a global recognition of excellence in restructuring business. In summer 2010, airBaltic was chosen for anna.aero ANNIES Award as Europe's largest flag carrier by new routes. airBaltic won a special Pacesetter Award 2010 from the Jury of the Budgies World Low Cost Airline Awards, recognising achievements of airBaltic as a hybrid airline.