Green Sadiq Khan ‘agreed to promote United Airlines’ on US visit ‘in exchange for business-class seats on flights throughout the trip’

• City Hall deal allegedly gave United Airlines PR rights for seats worth £255 each

Sadiq Khan signed an agreement to promote United Airlines in exchange for business class tickets on an official visit to America.

The Mayor of London, known for his campaigning on green issues and for clean air, offered to give the airline ‘recognition’ during his trade mission to the US last year.

The deal, which was previously denied by City Hall, allegedly gave United Airlines all PR rights during the trip, including showing its logo at events and sending a representative on board the Mayor’s flights.

Mr Khan then appeared to advertise the airline’s presence in the UK, posting on Twitter, now X, that it operated 22 flights from Heathrow a day, along with a photo of him posing by an aircraft, the Telegraph reported.

In return, the Mayor was flown around the US on six flights on seats worth £255 each.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan signed an agreement to ‘promote’ United Airlines in exchange for business class seats on six flights during a trade mission visit to the US last year

United Airlines allegedly received full PR rights during the visit, including displaying its logo at events and providing representatives to accompany Mr Khan and his staff on flights

Mr Khan has been a strong critic of plans to expand Heathrow and an opponent of a third runway at Britain’s busiest airport.

The agreement also allegedly included two economy class flights and two ‘pre-visit’ flights for the deputy mayor.

The Labour mayor met several senior US politicians including former Secretary of State and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and New York’s mayor Michael Bloomberg.

He was accompanied on some of the flights by members of the press, including journalists from the BBC, the Guardian, ITV and the Evening Standard.

But the Mayor’s chief of staff, David Bellamy, told London Assembly members in June that he wouldn’t describe the visit as being sponsored by the airline.

He said it was ‘natural’ that some companies get publicity from events and denied knowledge of any specific deal between the Mayor and United. 

Caroline Russell, the Green Party leader at City Hall, filed a complaint against Mr Khan over his failure to declare the flights as a gift or hospitality in the register of interests.

The Mayor’s office said that Mr Khan had declared the costs in the GLA’s audit panel in accordance with the rules. 

Mr Khan has repeatedly opposed an expansion of Heathrow, and is a critic of a possible third runway at the hub

A spokesperson for the Mr Khan said: ‘Promoting London at home and abroad is a key part of the Mayoralty and Sadiq makes no apologies for travelling to the US last year and saving taxpayers money on the flights.

‘This visit was his first international mission since the start of the pandemic and an opportunity to encourage tourism to London and showcase the capital to businesses, investors, entrepreneurs and students in the world’s largest economy.

‘In order to reduce the cost of the visit, City Hall secured an agreement for a group flight package with United Airlines, where only taxes and fees were payable.

‘This one-off agreement did not result in a formal partnership between the Greater London Authority and United Airlines.’

MailOnline has contacted United Airlines for comment.

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