British & Irish Lions Tour 2025: Qatar Airways named Official Airline Partner
Qatar Airways has been announced as the Official Title Partner and Official Airline Partner for the highly anticipated British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia in 2025. The event, which brings together the best rugby players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to face off against Australia’s Wallabies, is set to kick off on 28 June 2025.
The British & Irish Lions Tour is a celebrated event in the rugby calendar, occurring every four years and captivating fans across the globe.
For the 2025 Tour, the Lions will begin their journey in Australia with a match at the Adelaide Oval, followed by a series of Test matches at premier venues across the country. The Test series will commence at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on 19 July, move to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on 26 July, and conclude at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on 2 August.
Qatar Airways, a multi-time winner of the Skytrax World’s Best Airline award, will be responsible for flying the Lions squad and their touring party to Australia.
This partnership continues Qatar Airways’ strong involvement in major sporting events, building on its sponsorship of the Qatar Airways Cup International Test matches held at Twickenham in 2023 and 2024.
In a statement, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, expressed the airline’s enthusiasm for the partnership:
We are taking our commitment to the sport of rugby to the next level, flying some of the world’s best athletes, coaching staff and officials to compete in The Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia 2025. We look forward to enabling rugby fans across the world to connect for this unique sporting event.
The airline’s extensive network in Australia, offering 42 weekly flights to key cities such as Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, will facilitate the travel of fans and ensure seamless connectivity to the tour’s matches.
Ben Calveley, CEO of The British & Irish Lions, highlighted the importance of this partnership, noting,
An airline partner is a vital logistical component of every Lions tour… Qatar Airways has a proven track record of excellence as a premium global airline, providing high-quality service to customers travelling to and from almost 100 countries.
Rugby Australia’s CEO, Phil Waugh, added,
This announcement of Qatar Airways as the Series Title Partner sees one of the world’s finest airlines getting behind one of the most iconic major sporting events in the world, and represents another substantial boost to what promises to be a memorable occasion across Australia next year.
As the countdown to the 2025 Tour begins, Qatar Airways is committed to ensuring a superior travel experience for the expected 20,000 fans heading to Australia, while also maintaining its dedication to sustainability.
The airline continues to lead in environmental initiatives, such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) adoption, carbon offsetting, and waste reduction, aligning its operations with the principles of a circular economy.
For UK-based business travellers planning to attend the tour, Qatar Airways offers not only unmatched connectivity but also a wealth of exclusive experiences through its Privilege Club Collection. With over 170 global destinations, the airline provides seamless access from the UK and Ireland to Australia via its hub at Hamad International Airport in Doha.
If you require further information about planning your next trip to Australia or for flights across the Qatar Airways network, please contact your Global Travel Management Account Manager.
