Canberra Raiders players and major corporate partners, have secured the assistance of Canberra Airport and Qantas to ensure the best possible preparation for their round 10 clash against the Knights in Newcastle.
The Raiders NRL Squad and club’s major sponsors will travel together to and from Newcastle on a charter flight out of Canberra and then Newcastle, to eliminate the need for a connecting flight and reduce the travel time for the sides important match against the Knights on Sunday.
The trip to Newcastle will give the Raiders corporate partners the opportunity to experience the Raiders preparation and lead in to an NRL game, where they’ll have the chance to mingle with the team and see how they embark on an away trip.
The special flight was organised by the Raiders, Qantas and Canberra Airport, with the return trip allowing the Raiders to return to Canberra after their match against the Knights on Sunday to help aid recovery post-game.
Raiders CEO Don Furner said this weekend’s match was an important one from a football view, but also from a corporate perspective as well.
“It’s wonderful that we have relationships with both the Canberra Airport and Qantas to ensure our players can best prepare for away fixtures and this direct flight to and from Newcastle allows them the best chance to prepare and recover from this weekend’s match,” Furner said. “This weekend’s trip also allows us to show our sponsors how the team prepares for a match.”
Qantas ACT Regional Manager Colin Thomas said they were happy to assist the regions local team in getting the best preparation for the game.
“Qantas is delighted to be offering support to the Canberra Raiders through the use of a direct return charter flight from Canberra to Newcastle using a Boeing B717 jet aircraft,” Mr Thomas said. “This flight of just over one hour will ensure the team and their sponsors arrive relaxed and in good shape for the match against the Newcastle Knights on Sunday."
Canberra Airport’s Managing Director Stephen Byron said they were proud to get behind the Raiders for this weekend’s trip to Newcastle.
“We were delighted to give the mighty Canberra Raiders, along with some of their sponsors, a winning send off before they boarded their special Qantas charter flight to Newcastle Airport to take on the Knights on Sunday,” said Mr Byron. “Canberra Airport and Denman Prospect are proud supporters of the Canberra Raiders. As our message on the mega display screen said, ‘GO Raiders!’”
