Etihad Airways' sports teams set for season climax

Excitement is building at Etihad Airways as two of the airline’s sporting partners - Manchester City Football Club and Harlequins Rugby Club - look to end the season triumphantly with success in their respective domestic league's blockbuster games.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline is lead and shirt sponsor at both English clubs, with Manchester City striving to win the Barclays Premier League title on Sunday, 13 May at the Etihad Stadium when they play Queens Park Rangers. If successful, it will be the first time since 1968 that Manchester City has won the title in England's top tier of football and the club needs to equal or better the result of nearest rivals Manchester United to be crowned champions.

Rugby Union side Harlequins will take on Northampton Saints on Saturday, 12 May at the Twickenham Stoop in the first semi final of the Aviva Premiership, looking to book a place in the final at Twickenham two weeks later.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways' President and Chief Executive Officer, said: "Etihad Airways is delighted to be in the unique position that our sporting partners in football and rugby are both pushing to win their league title.

"We wish the players and management at Manchester City FC and Harlequins the very best of luck as they look to finish the season in style and be crowned champions."

Earlier in the season Etihad hosted a special photo shoot with Vincent Kompany, Manchester City FC captain, and Chris Robshaw, Harlequins and England captain at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

Chris Robshaw has enjoyed a phenomenal season being named England captain for the RBS Six Nations 2012 and recently winning the Premiership player of the season award.

Five Harlequins players including Robshaw were also named in the ESPN dream team for the 2011/12 season. The fellow Harlequins players are Joe Marler, Mike Brown, George Lowe and Nick Easter.

In addition to sponsoring Manchester City and Harlequins, Etihad Airways is also sponsor of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the GAA All Ireland Hurling Championships, the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.

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About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, began operations in 2003, and in 2011 carried 8.3 million passengers. From its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad Airways serves 84 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America, including flights to Nairobi, flights to Japan, flights to Melbourne and flights to London. Etihad Airways employs a fleet of 66 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and has 100 aircraft on order, including 10 Airbus A380s, the world’s largest passenger aircraft. Etihad Airways also owns nearly 30 per cent of airberlin, Europe's sixth largest airline, and 40 per cent of Air Seychelles. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com.

For more information contact:
Tom Clarke
Etihad Airways Corporate Communications
P.O. Box 35566, Head Office
Khalifa City A
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
+971 50 812 5796
www.etihadairways.com