Aer Lingus has been chosen as the official carrier of the Ryder Cup European team for September after signing a deal with the tournament's directors.

Aer Lingus will be able to use the Ryder Cup association until the end of 2006 as part of the deal. It plans to run television adverts as part of the agreement. The deal comes at a good time for the airline, just a month before it floats on the Dublin and London stock exchanges.

Aer Lingus was scheduled to be a chief sponsor of the tournament, but scrapped its sponsorship plan four years ago after the airline ran into financial troubles post 9/11. It was also forced to scrap a sponsorship deal with golfer Pádraig Harrington.

It is understood several European airlines were interested in the deal with the tournament, but some of them do not operate out of Heathrow and this was a key concern for the tournament directors.

Under the deal, Aer Lingus will transport the European team from London Heathrow to Dublin on an Airbus A321. Transportation of the trophy, the Sam Ryder gold chalice, will also be the responsibility of Aer Lingus.

Richard Hills, Ryder Cup director, said Aer Lingus was "synonymous with Ireland". The airline would be linked with one of the most prestigious events in global sport, he added. Several Irish companies are among the main sponsors of the tournament, including AIB, Ballygowan, Bord Bia and Waterford Crystal.

These companies are expected to spend €3 million each on the event.