AirAsia, sponsors of the Williams F1 team, have made their move into American football with the Oakland Raiders.

The company, which owes Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) more than US$18 million in outstanding airport tax, will pay US$285,000 for its partnership with the Raiders over the next season of the NFL.

The deal will see Oakland Raiders branding painted on the company's 'Commitment to Excellence' plane. AirAsia is yet to introduce flights to the USA, but is expected to do so soon. In the meantime, the company has promised an exhibition flight to Oakland to show off the Raiders images.

The company has attracted criticism in its native Malaysia for not sponsoring local teams, and this move is expected to add to that. Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary-general Datuk Sieh Kok Chi complained: "At the moment, all we get are minimal rates for flights domestically and within South East Asia. There is no cash funding involved. I don't want to be ungrateful by saying that they have not helped at all. However, I'm disappointed as I feel that they can offer much more."

The Raiders have a similar partnership with Hawaii Airlines, which chief executive Amy Trask says will continue. She added of the AirAsia deal: "It is a unique and audacious relationship between two truly global organisations. As always, we eagerly seek creative opportunities to serve and interact with our fans throughout the world and we are delighted to work with AirAsia on this creative endeavour."