
The global pandemic has caused the biggest disruption to worldwide sport since the Second World War.
High profile cancellations and postponements peaked when the Tokyo Olympic Games were deferred to 2021 – a target date that’s still hanging in the balance.
The Madrid Open, set for September 12th, has been cancelled. The Chicago Marathon, scheduled for October 11th, is also cancelled.
However, several major sporting events have been taking place since July, thanks to new measures put in place for the summer months allowing teams to travel. It meant that racing at Silverstone, international football, snooker and golf tournaments could go ahead – even if not quite as planned.
Some events have been taking place behind closed doors. The World Snooker Championship was intended to be one of the first sporting events to allow spectators during the pandemic – until the pilot scheme was cut after the first day of the tournament.
The majority of mainstream sports (like football, cricket and rugby in the UK, ice hockey and baseball in North America) have been going ahead as televised-only events – but some sporting calendars have been condensed. The Premier League and EFL Championship, Champions League, Europa League and UEFA Nations League are all running to tighter schedules – making efficient travel arrangements a top priority.
Air Charter for Sports Teams
The collapse of scheduled services, combined with the greater degree of control and reduced risk to athletes and staff afforded by aircraft charter makes it the go-to choice for top-tier teams and athletes.
Aircraft charter has always helped to make travel for sports teams more efficient – and now, it’s making travel safer, thanks to more reliable tracking and tracing measures, and more effective containment and distancing. Travel for sports teams has had to change in many ways to suit the situation we find ourselves in with COVID-19; so much so that the recent advice issued as part of UEFA’s Return to Play Protocol strongly recommends the use of air charter for sports teams.
Recent Flights
The use of aircraft charter has extended beyond football into just about every major sporting event – and we anticipate that charter for sports teams will grow throughout the year and into 2021, as a new normal is established.
For example, the UFC’s Fight Island event chartered planes to Abu Dhabi from Las Vegas and other strategic points around the world, including the UK. A strict testing and quarantine protocol was set up for fighters and factions, and a total of five tests per person were required on the island for the event to take place.
The Australian, West Indian and Pakistani cricket teams have all travelled to the UK by charter flight, to play England – and the Indian Premier League cricket teams recently flew to Dubai for IPL 2020 by chartered aircraft as well. Again, strict testing and quarantining have been part and parcel of travel for sports teams, but the events have so far effectively contained risk well.
Because of the successful containment that charter offers travelling sports teams, many more franchises are showing interest in aircraft charter. Efficient travel will become particularly important, as next year’s scheduled events (the Super Bowl, the Champions League and Europa League Finals, tennis Grand Slams and golfing majors) will be packed in with postponed fixtures from this year – including Euro 2020 and the Summer Olympics.
Keeping Safe on Chartered Sports Team Flights
Chartered flights can offer specific benefits to sports teams that need to travel together during the coronavirus pandemic.
The greatest benefit to charter for sports teams in the current climate is the enhanced social distancing it offers, both in-flight and on the ground.
Wherever possible, private terminals are created in conjunction with airport authorities. Not only do these provide expedited check-in and security, they allow for much tighter social distancing and hygiene measures. Temperature checks, if required at the origin and destination, can be turned around far quicker, too. On board, more cabin space allows individuals to more effectively distance themselves from one another, minimising contact and the potential to transmit coronavirus. Less contact with others throughout the process also makes tracking and tracing far simpler and more effective.
Cleaning procedures on chartered aircraft are also being elevated to combat COVID-19. While scheduled flights have made improvements, the turnaround time is still generally much faster than a privately chartered flight. With more time to clean, chartered aircraft can be disinfected and deep cleaned to an extremely thorough standard – ensuring peace of mind when travelling.
We handpick aircraft that best suit teams and their equipment, ensuring that coaching and support staff can travel safely alongside the athletes. Specified catering can be prepared for optimum pre and post match nutrition, in the unrivalled comfort of a privately chartered aircraft.
Keep Sport Moving through COVID-19
ACC has decades of experience in charter flights for sports teams, helping athletes and support crew get to matches rested and ready to perform.
Get a quote now or call +44 (0) 1737 232 230.
Related Insights
Summer getaways in 2022
From luxury beach holidays in the Mediterranean to stylish city breaks, it’s shaping up to be the year of the vacation. Hybrid working and video calls may be here to stay, but jet-setters are ready to switch off, say goodbye to their home offices, and take to the skies again.
Tour operators and the value of a charter specialist
The last two years have been a time of unprecedented change and challenge for the travel industry – but confidence appears to be returning, and momentum is building as we look ahead to the rest of 2022 and into next year.
The role of air charter as women’s sport continues its ascent
After two years of lockdowns and travel restrictions, 2022 is a bumper year for women’s sport. The world’s appetite for televised women’s sports soared during the pandemic – and the interest shows no signs of disappearing now that fans can travel and stadiums are full again.
AIRCRAFT CHARTER – HELPING TO RESTART THE MICE INDUSTRY
With travel restrictions, social distancing, and limited face to face meetings taking place, the pandemic has directly impacted the meetings and incentives industry. However, recent weeks have seen an upturn in requests, showing positive signs that the industry is recovering.
AIRCRAFT CHARTER – KEY BENEFITS FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
With a series of lockdowns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the automotive industry plunged in the first quarter of 2020. Despite the huge shortage of semiconductors chips, worldwide car sales grew in 2021. As the industry shows signs of recovery, we explore how air charter can support the industry.
CHARTER CONTINUES TO BE AN OPTIMAL TRAVEL SOLUTION FOR FOOTBALL
The first few weeks in 2022 are expected to be busy for the international team and player travel. “We have been working hard this month on private air travel, bringing players and their families into the UK”, says Mitch Broadstock, the ACC Aviation Senior Business Development Manager.