Air Partner enjoyed a packed year of football flying in 2018, transporting players, management and fans to pre-season tours, friendlies and tournaments all over the world. It has been a busy few years for the group in this field: since 2016, it has flown more than 12,000 passengers 120,000 miles to 65 airports in 42 countries for football related events.

Flights were coordinated by both the commercial and private jet divisions. These ranged from transporting entire squads on aircraft such the Boeing 737-800 and the Airbus A340 VIP, to flying VIPs on jets from the entry-level Mustang up to G650s and Global 6000s.

A key highlight of last year was the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, during which Air Partner flew a number of international teams, their families and corporate sponsors. In addition to this, the company also arranged flights for the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and La Liga, the top professional league in Spain.

In total, Air Partner was entrusted to fly 35 professional teams over the past 12 months alone, which is a testament to its expertise in the football industry. As well as large fixtures, 2018 saw the Air Partner group arranging 10 pre-season tours and training camps, which are becoming increasingly popular. There is a current trend towards long-haul destinations such as China, USA, Asia and Australia, which require additional planning and co-ordination.

Air Partner has more than 50 years of experience chartering aircraft for elite sports teams across the world, and works directly with clubs, travel agents and travel management companies that also understand the unique demands of the industry. For its sports clients it ensures that catering is in line with athletes' requirements by liaising with club nutritionists, and it oversees the handling, unloading and clearance of critical kit and equipment, which in 2018 totalled in excess of 100 tonnes.

The group also offers a CharterPLUS guarantee, which gives clients reassurances such as additional insurance coverage and financial protection. And it can personalise the whole charter from start to finish by providing headrest covers with the club's crest, branded pre-printed boarding cards and iPads pre-set according to the team's language requirements.

Trading director Clive Chalmers comments: “It's been another busy year at Air Partner, and our teams have been working hard to facilitate a wide array of football related flights. We value our relationships in this industry extremely highly and are always looking for ways to provide the best possible service.”