Last week Air Partner, the global aviation services group, flew professional rugby club the Sale Sharks and some of their key corporate sponsors to Lyon ahead of the club’s match against Pool 2 Challenge Cup opponents Lyon Olympique Universitaire. The flight set off from Manchester early on Thursday 19th October in order to allow a day for the players to recuperate and acclimatise ahead of Friday’s match. A dedicated flight manager from Air Partner’s Commercial Jets team was on hand to ensure the journey ran smoothly, overseeing the charter from start to finish. Friday’s encounter at Matmut Stadium de Gerland was the first meeting between the sides in Europe. Despite a heroic effort from Sale Sharks which saw them take a 24-10 lead, the experienced Lyon side, who are currently leading the French Top 14 League, fought back to eventually claim a 27-24 victory.  Air Partner announced its new partnership with the Sale Sharks back in March: as well as supporting the club’s travel requirements through its Commercial and Private Jets divisions, Air Partner is also one of the club’s official sponsors. Air Partner has worked with the sports industry for over 50 years and has an in-depth understanding of the travel needs of elite sportspeople, their teams and fans. This summer alone, Air Partner’s European offices have operated 79 sport-related flights, flying over 5000 passengers more than 90,000 miles to 21 different countries. Sale Sharks Commercial Director Mark Cueto said: “We’d like to thank Air Partner for the outstanding service they provided this weekend in getting both our squad and corporate supporters out to Lyon. They ensured the journey was completely stress free for the team and coaching staff so they could focus completely on the game, whilst also ensuring our corporate guests had an unforgettable and unique experience.” Clive Chalmers, Trading Director at Air Partner, commented: “We were delighted to fly Sale Sharks to France for their latest fixture, ensuring that they arrived in Lyon with sufficient rest time before the match. We know how important it is to get every small detail right for our sports clients, which is why we take care of everything, from a seamless check-in experience through to the bespoke onboard service.”