Etihad Airways is s set to fly Team England to the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline has flown many elite athletes, coaches and supporters around the globe from Manchester City’s Title Winning Squads to England Cricket’s T20 2016 runner-up team.

Commonwealth Games England chief executive, Paul Blanchard said: “I’m delighted to welcome Etihad Airways to the Team England family. Etihad’s support shows that there is a real appetite amongst the most prestigious companies in the country to get behind England at the Commonwealth Games. With the potential of hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham as well as the Gold Coast Games just months away, this is a really exciting time to be involved with Commonwealth Games England and our athletes.”

Etihad Airways will be transporting over 650 Team England athletes and support staff to Australia next year. Team England preparations begin in Brisbane with a holding camp from 19 March and the Games themselves get underway on the Gold Coast on 4 April 2018.

Etihad currently operates 33 connecting flights weekly to Australia from London, Manchester and Edinburgh.