A new airline service from the United States to Shannon could lead to an increase in the already strong market for airline sponsorship of sport in Ireland.
United Airlines is to operate a five times weekly service next summer between Chicago and Shannon.  Flights will run from June 6th until August 26th.
This is clearly good news for the West of Ireland but it could also be an opportunity for sport with United one of a host of airlines investing significantly in sporting partnerships here and around the world.
United last month appointed a new New York agency to advise and handle its global sponsorship portfolio which includes 25 headline sporting and cultural events.
The company is an official partner of the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins teams in the NFL and is a long term partner of the Chicago Bulls basketball franchise through its naming rights deal on their United Centre.
More than $10Bn (€7.6Bn) was spent on sports sponsorship in the US last year alone and airlines have traditionally been to the fore.
We have seen the benefits and appeal of sport to Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines in recent years with strong bonds built in Golf, GAA and Horse racing.
Aer Lingus has signed a number of deals with sports bodies and with the Irish Olympic Council in the past 12 months.
It would be remiss of sport not to look closely at what it might have that could be of interest to the latest multi-national airline to land on our shores.
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