Queensland Reds get own jet service in new sponsorhip deal with Alliance

The Queensland Reds are set to be the high-flyers of Super Rugby, becoming Australia’s first sporting team with their own jet.

The Queensland Reds will have their own dedicated aircraft thanks to a lucrative partnership with Alliance Airlines. Picture: Tom Mitchell/QRU

Forget the team bus. The Queensland Reds have become Australia’s first sporting team with their own jet at their disposal after signing a lucrative sponsorship with Alliance Aviation.

The cash and support deal will include charter flights for the Reds to rugby games and festivals within Australia and New Zealand, giving them a huge advantage over their rivals relying on commercial flights.

The deal comes as most airlines tear up sponsorships, due to the financial strain of the COVID crisis, with Qantas last year ending its 20-year tie-up with the Wallabies.

Alliance managing director Scott McMillan said the partnership with the Reds was a “meeting of minds” that should serve the team well.

“A lot of big US sporting teams own their own aircraft because it’s much easier for them to fly in, play the game, pack up and fly back home,” Mr McMillan said.

“You can bring all the support staff, the physios and doctors and you have a totally tailored schedule. There’s no hanging around airport terminals.”

As well as flights throughout regional Queensland and within Australia, Alliance expected to carry the Reds to Dunedin and Wellington in New Zealand later in the year.

“There are no direct services (from Brisbane) to those places but this sponsorship means the Reds won’t have to worry about transport,” said Mr McMillan.

Charter flights for sports teams were used heavily throughout 2020, with Alliance carrying out numerous services under contract for the NRL.

However the Reds’ deal was the airline’s first major sponsorship and would extend for three seasons.

Reds’ number eight Harry Wilson visited the Alliance hangar to check out their new ride, which he declared “pretty cool”.

“It is a great way to start the year, finding out about a new partner who can support us when a lot of other institutions can’t,” Wilson said.

“The big dogs will have (seats) 1A and 1B and the rest of us will sit where we’re told to,” he joked.

Reds' players Tate McDermott and Harry Wilson with the new “team bus” – an Alliance Fokker 70. Picture: Tom Mitchell/QRU

Queensland Rugby Union chief executive David Hanham said COVID had thrown up many travel challenges for sport but had also created opportunities.

“Alliance Airlines’ success in assisting various industries deal with the challenges presented by COVID-19 has been impressive and a testament to those who lead this aviation business,” Mr Hanham said.

St George Bank would continue as the Reds’ major sponsor as the team heads into the 2021 Super Rugby season.

Alliance was one of the few airlines that achieved a profit in 2020, in the midst of the most devastating year in the history of aviation.

The success was attributed to the airline’s ability to meet the needs of resource industry clients requiring COVID-safe charter flights.

In late-2020 Alliance took delivery of the first of 30 second-hand Embraer 190 jets bought for about $170m.

The jets will substantially increase the size of the Alliance fleet, to more than 70 aircraft.

For the Reds, Alliance has repainted a Fokker 70 with the team’s logo, giving their rivals no doubt as to who they are carrying.