BRITISH AIRWAYS has promised to show off the i360 around the world after signing a five year sponsorship deal with the attraction.

The partnership was announced yesterday as the team behind the 530ft tower on Brighton seafront said they are on schedule to open next summer.

As well as the naming rights, the tower is expected to be lit up in British Airways colours.

In return, the airliner will promote the attraction around the world.

i360 bosses refused to reveal the value of the deal citing commercial sensitivity - but it is estimated to be in the millions.

Eleanor Harris, chief executive of British Airways i360, described the five-year partnership as a "perfect fit".

She said: "We are absolutely delighted to have BA supporting our groundbreaking attraction.

"What is fantastic about BA is their international reach. They will be showing us off around the world and that will be great for us and great for the city as a whole."

Ms Harris said construction was on schedule with the glass pod set to completed by Christmas before the first test runs in April.

Although an exact opening date has not been set, the first guests are expected to be going up between June and August.

She added: "Excitement is building and we have already taken a lot of bookings. I can't wait for people to see the pod which is beautiful, it is like a space age glass UFO. There is still a lot to do but we are on schedule."

The chief executive has links with British Airways having worked for the company in marketing and operations between 1994 and 2000.

She then moved to the London Eye where she was commercial director from 2000 for six years.

This coincided with the Eye's sponsorship deal with BA, between 2000 and 2008, during which time it was called the British Airways London Eye.

Warren Morgan, leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said the sponsorship deal would help secure the success of the project.

He said: "As our money from government goes down we have to find other income and the i360 will help bring in funds for vital services and improving the city as a whole.

"I think it is fantastic BA has chosen to invest in Brighton and Hove. It fits very well with the work we are doing at the moment with Gatwick with jobs and skills, and that is part reason we have endorsed Gatwick to have a second runway."

Councillor Morgan added the i360 deal had nothing to do with the runway endorsement.

Lynne Embleton, British Airways director of strategy and managing director for Gatwick, said: “We fly to 67 destinations across the globe from Gatwick, and employ more than 2,500 staff in Sussex, so putting our name to the i360 and helping to promote even more tourism to the area made perfect sense."

i360 is not straight - but no need to panic

THE British Airways i360 is not straight, its chief engineer has revealed.

The 530ft tower is a full four inches off vertical and is leaning over towards Regency Square.

But chief engineer Doctor John Roberts urged those living in the square not to worry as the listing angle is to be expected.

Dr Roberts said: "It is impossible to build something completely vertical and we set ourselves a target of six inches out. In the end it was only four inches so we are incredibly pleased, it is quite an achievement really."

He explained how the tower leans further to the north on a sunny day with the rays from the south heating up that side of the tower and expanding the metal.

In the evening when the sun goes down it returns to its original position.

Eleanor Harris said the construction had gone "very well" and as such it is expected to open on time.

She explained how Australian rainwater was playing a key role in keeping the tower up.

She said: "Like bridges we have dampers to stop it moving in the wind. We went to the world's top man, an Australian called professor Max Irvine, so there is Australian rainwater in there. It sloshes around to counterbalance the wind."

While many will worry about the impact strong winds will have the chief executive said there is nothing to worry about.

The structure is tested to withstand the most severe storms Mother Nature can throw at it, with the cladding on the outside acting as a windbreak.

She added: "On a windy day our engineers stood behind the cladding and they said they could barely feel it.

"Even if we had a storm like that of 1987 it would not be a problem."