Tourexpi
Strawberry Skies
Wimbledon is synonymous with strawberries, with
50,000 kilograms of strawberries and 14,900 litres of cream consumed each year
at Wimbledon as a refreshing summer treat for those observing the matches.
Over the course of a year, Emirates serves 98,000
kilograms of fresh strawberries onboard flights across the globe, often
offering customers juicy UAE-grown strawberries from the Emirates-owned world’s
largest vertical farm in Dubai– Bustanica.
A Birds Eye View
The historic South London grounds of the All
England Club are diligently protected by the famous Rufus, a Harris Hawk, who
has been monitoring the Wimbledon courts for the past 10 years and scaring away
pesky pigeons every morning during the event. Rufus is a celebrity among
Wimbledon fans and even has his own Championships accreditation pass.
Emirates is well versed in famous and important
birds, and welcomes falcon’s onboard flights in acknowledgement of their
historical and cultural significance in the UAE. Some revered falcons have
flown in the cabins with customers, and each falcon travels with personalised
health certifications and their own passport.
Flower Power
More than 50,000 plants feature across the
Wimbledon Grounds each year. The Clubhouse at the All England Club
features the iconic ivy growing on its exterior walls, now a distinctive
feature of the Club's architecture and is often seen in photographs and
broadcasts during the event, symbolizing the Club's long-standing traditions
and status. Ivy is often associated with tradition, resilience, and permanence.
Emirates always has a fresh purple orchid onboard
in the cabins and purchases 1.2 million individual orchids every year. The
orchid is symbolically associated with beauty, elegance, and luxury – perfectly
reflecting the Emirates onboard experience. Orchids can remain fresh and
vibrant for extended periods, making them very suitable flowers for Emirates’
long-haul flights.
Broadcast Behemoth
Wimbledon's enthralling tennis matches are
broadcast on television to more than 200 countries and territories worldwide,
reaching millions of viewers who tune in to watch the tournament live.
Emirates multi award-winning inflight entertainment
system ice offers the largest choice of content on any airline in the
world. It offers Emirates customers over 2,000 movies and hundreds of TV
series, with content licensed in over 50 languages from across the globe.
Sparkling Sips
Wimbledon is known for certain drinks that enhance
the event's atmosphere and spectator experience including the Pimm's Cup, a
gin-based liqueur mixed with lemonade, mint, cucumber, orange, and
strawberries; Champagne Lanson - to toast the winners and celebrate; and the
quintessentially British drink, a Sipsmith gin and tonic - a popular choice at
Wimbledon.
Emirates is renowned for its award-winning
portfolio of beverages served onboard and in lounges, from globally exclusive
prestige Champagnes to Grand Cru Classe wines aged in Emirates own
cellar for decades. Emirates also serves Sipsmith gin from the UK onboard, as
well as Pimm’s cocktails, and several impressive expressions of Champagne.
Musical Moments
One of the most memorable music moments at
Wimbledon was in 1996, when Sir Cliff Richard – an icon of British pop music,
was in the crowds watching a match when it began to rain. The match was paused,
but the rain continued for hours, and a Wimbledon official had an idea to
entertain the crowds with a song from Sir Cliff. A true professional, he
entertained the crowds with several hits including ‘Summer Holiday,’ which
became such a memorable performance, he was asked for a reprise in 2022.
The highly catchy Emirates brand music, known as
the Emirates Sonic Branding, was composed in January 2012 by Christian
Saglie, a Los Angeles based film composer. Saglie was commissioned to compose
Emirates Airline's official theme music for use in ads, corporate videos, on
hold music, live events, and more. The musical journey of the sonic is based on
a single theme – a descending 3 notes heard in the beginning, which is repeated
and is now synonymous with the Emirates experience.
Tokens of Tennis
Wimbledon fans love to visit the Wimbledon Shop, as
they snap up memorabilia and keepsakes of the event. Wimbledon-branded towels
like those the tennis players use during play are highly sought after, as well
as official Wimbledon clothing such as polo shirts, t-shirts, caps and
wristbands. Limited edition items, signed merchandise, and special
commemorative pieces celebrating historical moments or players are often in
demand among collectors.
Emirates merchandise is so popular that Emirates
has its own online
store and several physical stores that sell everything from luxury
luggage collections, sportswear, pilot and cabin crew costumes for children, to
luxury First Class blankets, moisturising pyjamas and an exclusive Emirates and
Dilmah signature tea blend. Emirates is now also offering bespoke
Wimbledon gifts – including the iconic Wimbledon championship towel,
complete with Emirates branding.
Tradition and Innovation
Wimbledon, while steeped in tradition with its
grass courts and white dress code, has embraced innovations such as the
retractable roofs on Centre Court and No.1 Court to ensure play continues
despite the unpredictable British weather. The Centre Court roof is now 15
years old and the No.1 Court roof was installed five years ago. The
introduction of the roofs has transformed the event, ensuring matches can
continue despite weather conditions.
Innovation is at the core of Emirates philosophy.
From 1985 to 2025, Emirates has been propelled by a desire to innovate –
continuously investing in new aircraft, technology and products and services to
enhance the ‘fly better’ experience. From 1992, when Emirates was the
first airline to install individual television screens in all seats, to 2008 –
when it was the first airline to introduce onboard showers and onboard lounges,
2011 - the first airline to introduce onboard Wi-Fi, all the way to 2023 – when
Emirates launched the largest aircraft refresh programme in history – a
multibillion-dollar investment to elevate customer experience.
Image
Credit: © Emirates Airlines
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