Manchester United in multi-year partnership link with Malaysia Airlines

A multi-year partnership has been agreed between Manchester United and Malaysia Airlines which sees the national carrier become the club’s official commercial airline.

The partnership was announced by Malaysia Airlines’ Group Managing Director of Malaysia Aviation Group, Izham Ismail, at a major industry trade fair in Kuala Lumpur.

To celebrate the announcement, former Manchester United defenders Patrice Evra and Wes Brown flew to Kuala Lumpur to attend the event, to share their experiences of travelling the world as both players and ambassadors for the club.

During the event the two United legends were asked about the significance of the new partnership.

Patrice Evra said: “Manchester United has fans from all over the world, and the passionate support we have here in Asia never fails to impress me.

“I am pleased to be able to share our partnership with Malaysia Airlines with those fans and introduce them to the best-in-class service they offer. Wes and I travelled here on Malaysia Airlines, and I would like to thank them for such a comfortable journey.”

Wes Brown said: “I am fortunate enough to represent Manchester United at events all over the world.

“I have visited Malaysia many times, and I am always blown away by the warm welcome I receive. Malaysia Airlines is a true representation of Malaysia’s friendly culture, and I cannot wait to work with them to engage with our fantastic supporters.”

Also speaking at the event was United’s CEO of Alliances and Partnerships, Victoria Timpson, who said: “Manchester United has a long standing and proud connection with Malaysia, with a history of passionate support from across the country.

“We have three official Malaysian supporter’s clubs, with the Kuala Lumpur branch boasting one of the club’s largest supporter communities, reflecting the country’s love of all things United.

“We are very pleased to welcome Malaysia Airlines to our family of partners and look forward to sharing with our global fans its trusted, welcoming and hospitable service.”

Izham Ismail said: “This collaboration brings together two global icons, Malaysia Airlines and Manchester United, and will create unforgettable experiences for our fans and customers.

“Aligning with a globally recognised club like United places Malaysia Airlines in front of a massive worldwide audience, significantly boosting brand recognition, especially in Europe and South East Asia where United has a large fanbase.

“We look forward to the exciting opportunities this collaboration brings and the joy it will bring to football enthusiasts worldwide.”