For the first time, the airline has decided to sign a long-term agreement to partner with the event, whereas, until now, the agreements signed were only short-term (usually one year). During the signing ceremony with F1’s chief financial officer, James Hogan, the airline’s president stated: \u00abThis extension of sponsorship goes against the commercial trend of shorter sponsorship agreements and demonstrates our long-term commitment to Formula One. We have found that F1 is a very effective communication vehicle to promote the values of the Etihad brand and showcase our city of Abu Dhabi to a global audience.\u00bb<\/p>\n
The Emirati event has, in fact, an immediate and direct impact on the local economy and the commercial activity of the airline, as highlighted by Bernie Ecclestone: \u00abThe Etihad Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi was a huge success for Etihad, Abu Dhabi, and Formula One, allowing the airline and the city to be showcased to a global audience estimated at over 500 million F1 fans. The influx of visitors to Abu Dhabi also brings a direct economic benefit, with more than 20,000 people coming to the United Arab Emirates for the event, representing tens of millions of dollars for the local tourism industry.\u00bb<\/p>\n
The event thus has a direct impact on Al Bateen Executive Airport, which is only a quarter of an hour from the circuit, allowing teams to save a lot of time compared to other airports in the country, including Abu Dhabi’s main airport. Therefore, it has decided to set up a new reception area to enhance the comfort experienced by passengers who choose to pass through this airport.<\/p>\n