A flexible solution was needed for a U.S. soccer team competing in a tournament in Morocco.
Getting a U.S. soccer team to Morocco and back
A U.S. soccer team asked us to help arrange their travel for the Club World Cup in Morocco. As well as there being no direct flights from their training camp to the tournament, the team's return travel depended on whether they progressed in the competition. We stepped in to deliver a flexible solution for the complex request.
Our Solution
Route:
Malaga > Tangier
Tangier/Rabat > Madrid > Seattle
Aircraft: Boeing B757-200, B737-400, B777-200ER
Firstly, a dedicated account manager arranged a Boeing B757 with all business class seats to fly the players in comfort from their training camp in Malaga to their first match in Tangier.
Due to the time it takes to arrange certain airport customs and the security requirements needed for a direct flight, the team’s return flight to Seattle needed to involve a connection in Madrid. However, the timing of the return leg depended on the team’s results. If they lost their first match, they’d be leaving Tangier the next day and returning back to Seattle via Madrid; but if they made it through to the next round, they’d be departing from Rabat a week later also via Madrid.
To cover both potential scenarios, we made arrangements for a B777-200ER to be available in Madrid for both possible departure dates. We also ensured a B737-400 was available to fly the team from either Tangier or Rabat to Madrid regardless of their first result. Once the team lost their first match, we activated the first option: a B737-400 flying the team from Tangier to Madrid.
The team’s connection in Madrid was swift and efficient thanks to our local office representatives who greeted them, assisted with customs, and escorted them onboard the B777-200ER for an early departure back to the U.S.
The Finer Details
Flight Representation: We had a representative on the ground in Malaga to oversee the departure of the business class B757. We also had a representative present in Madrid to oversee the team’s transfer from the B737-400 to the B777-200ER.
Team Branding: We arranged complimentary branding for each charter