OREANDA-NEWS. UTair Aviation and the Russian Basketball Federation have signed a cooperation agreement. From now on Premier League women's basketball teams as well as all Superleague teams will travel to Russian Championship matches aboard UTair flights.

The agreement will be effective to the end of the basketball season in May 2014, but both parties hope to maintain and develop the mutually beneficial partnership.

This is the second flight agreement with a basketball organization for UTair this season. Earlier the airline became the official carrier for the VTB United Basketball League.

“UTair has broad experience in collaborating with sports organizations,” said UTair Aviation President Oleg Semenov. “We will provide a whole range of services for these basketball teams taking part in the Russian Championship matches, including the special aspects involved in service for professional sportsmen. UTair's schedule and route network perfectly fit the calendar and map of Russian Basketball Federation.”

“We are grateful to UTair for supporting the national basketball,” said Russian Basketball Federation President Yulia Anikeeva. “Under the agreement, UTair will provide discounts to the Premiere League and Superleague teams, allowing the clubs to save significantly on flights. UTair has the broadest route network within Russia, which meets the needs of major basketball championships with an event map spread over 25 regions of the country. Considering the earlier agreement signed with VTB United league, UTair can truly be called the national airline of Russian basketball.”

UTair Aviation ranks among the top three Russian airlines. In 2012 UTair aircraft transported 8,582,681 passengers. The airline operates more than 150 fixed wing aircraft and performs flights to 110 destinations in Russia and aboard. The airline maintains its central hub at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, from which it performs 100 flights daily.