1 May 2007: World Youth Day Sydney 2008 (WYD08) today announced Qantas would be its official global and domestic airline partner.

The internationally renowned carrier is the first major corporate partner to join WYD08 - an event expected to attract the largest international visitor and media contingent to Sydney since the 2000 Olympic Games.

WYD08 - the largest youth event in the world - will draw an estimated 125,000 overseas visitors to Sydney and mark the first visit to Australia by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in July 2008.

"We are very pleased Qantas has agreed to support World Youth Day 2008," said the Chairman of the WYD08 Local Organising Committee and Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell.

"Qantas is not only an iconic company in Australia - it is also very highly regarded and recognised worldwide.

"Qantas will help convey to international pilgrims the Australian flavour we will bring to this event, as we invite the world to celebrate with us in July 2008."

Cardinal Pell said Qantas would play a major role in bringing many of the overseas pilgrims to Australia as well as significant numbers from interstate and regional NSW to Sydney.

International pilgrims are also expected to visit other parts of Australia prior to the WYD08 week (15-20 July 2008), giving them a greater Australian experience.

In March, the Federal Government announced all registered pilgrims would receive a minimum three-month visa - free of Government charges - enabling them to see more of Australia while here for World Youth Day.

Cardinal Pell said the Qantas commitment was a key pillar partnership alongside the already committed substantial State and Federal Government support.

"Just as importantly, we will be tapping into Qantas' global expertise to help transport pilgrims as smoothly as possible and to deliver a world class celebration for a global audience," he said.

The Chief Executive of Qantas, Geoff Dixon, said Qantas was honoured to be associated with the visit of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

"Events of the magnitude of World Youth Day provide an opportunity to showcase the best Australia has to offer - a responsibility Qantas takes seriously.

"We look forward to working with the World Youth Day organisers to promote Australia as one of the world's most beautiful destinations, as well as using our extensive event travel experience to ensure the smoothest possible arrangements for the many thousands of visitors flying in for the event," Mr Dixon said.

The Qantas partnership with World Youth Day will play a key role in successfully staging this historic occasion.

World Youth Day is the largest youth event in the world and will involve an anticipated 500,000 participants at the Final Mass.

Qantas is recognised as one of the world's leading long distance airlines, having pioneered services from Australia to North America and Europe.

The Qantas Group employs approximately 37,000 staff across a network that spans 143 destinations (including codeshare services) in Australia, Asia and the Pacific, the Americas, Europe and Africa. www.qantas.com