British Airways flies the hopes and dreams of all English football fans today (Thursday, June 8), when England’s Euro 2000 squad takes off on a specially chartered aircraft to Belgium.

England team coach Kevin Keegan and his squad of 22 players will fly to Liege in Belgium on a specially chartered British Airways Boeing 757 sporting the airline’s Union Flag livery on the tailfin.

The aircraft, under the command of Captain Phil Dales and Senior First Officer Steve Allright departs from Heathrow at 3pm this afternoon for the one hour flight to Liege.

Martin George, British Airways Director of Marketing, said: “British Airways is privileged to carry the England team to one of the world’s greatest football events. We’re sure the team will do their millions of supporters proud and we wish them the best of luck during the tournament.”

To guarantee the best possible send off, British Airways provided a special check-in facility at the squad hotel, and the team boarded their aircraft from the airline’s Engineering Base at Heathrow.

British Airways is also an official sponsor to the England 2006 bid to host the World Cup, and last July flew an FA delegation to Zurich to deliver the bid. Among them were the Prime Minister’s special envoy Tony Banks MP, England 2006 Campaign Director Alec McGivan, Liverpool and England star striker Michael Owen, and 1966 World Cup winners Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst.
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