CityJet's core hub of London City Airport is ideal for the team and management as it offers the quickest way to reach all of the Paralympic venues located in East London, including the Olympic Park in Stratford.

This proximity and the frequency of service, with up to six flights daily, will also be key for the thousands of Irish fans that are expected to travel to the capital for the 2012 Paralympic Games.

To mark the association, Paralympics Ireland's logo now sits on a CityJet aircraft and the airline's chief executive Christine Ourmières flew in from France to take part in the aircraft-naming ceremony with Irish Paralympic swimmers Darragh McDonald and James Scully and CityJet's Kieran Rice and Melissa Ruddy.

"As an Irish airline, we're proud to be able to carry the official Paralympic team to the Games," said Ourmières.

"To show our pride and enthusiasm, we've dedicated one of our aircraft in their honour, and we hope that between now and the Games, all of our passengers will see, and join in support of the Irish team.

"We're looking forward to cheering them on in September."

Liam Harbison, the Paralympics Ireland chief executive, acknowledged the backing of the key partnership ahead of London 2012.

"CityJet will provide vital support to the Irish Team and management at the London 2012 Paralympic Games," said Harbison, who will also be Ireland's Chef de Mission at the Paralympics.

"Huge numbers of Irish supporters are expected to travel to the games and flying to London City will have them closest to the action in [the] Olympic Park."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]