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| SkyTeam | ||
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| Launch date | June 22, 2000 | |
| Members | Full | 11 |
| Non-voting | 3 | |
| Pending | 3 | |
| Destinations | Airports | 841 |
| Countries | 162 | |
| Annual passengers (m) | 427.6 | |
| Fleet size | 2513 | |
| Management | Leo van Wijk (Chairman) | |
| Website | www.SkyTeam.com | |
SkyTeam is the second largest airline alliance in the world — behind Star Alliance — partnering fourteen carriers from four continents, with two pending members. SkyTeam also operates a cargo alliance called SkyTeam Cargo with all current SkyTeam members except for Continental Cargo.
Contents |
Membership history
- 2000 — Aeroméxico, Air France, Delta Air Lines, and Korean Air launch the SkyTeam alliance on June 22.
- 2001 — CSA Czech Airlines (in March) and Alitalia (on July 27) join.
- 2004 — Continental Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest Airlines join on September 13. Their simultaneous entry has been the largest expansion event in airline alliance history. As a result of the three new members, SkyTeam passes Oneworld to become the second largest alliance.
- 2005 — Even though current member CSA pledged to help Malév Hungarian Airlines become an associate member of the alliance (as opposed to a full member, an associate has no voting rights), Malév opts to join the Oneworld alliance, signing a Memorandum Of Understanding late in May. A few days later SkyTeam announces four new associate members due to join by 2006, each one being "sponsored" by an existing member: Madrid-based Air Europa (sponsored by Air France), Panama-based Copa Airlines (sponsored and partly owned by Continental Airlines), Kenya Airways (sponsored and partly owned by KLM) and Romania's Tarom (sponsored by Alitalia). Every associate will adopt a frequent flyer program of a full member: Copa Airlines already uses Continental's OnePass while Kenya Airways and Air Europa use Air France-KLM's Flying Blue.
- 2006 — Aeroflot joins on April 14. Middle East Airlines is invited to become an associate member.[1]
- 2007 — Air Europa, Copa Airlines, Kenya Airways become associate members of the alliance on September 1. China Southern Airlines joined SkyTeam on November 15 to become the 11th full member and the first carrier from Mainland China to join a global airline alliance.[2]
- 2008 - Continental Airlines announces its intention to move to the Star Alliance.[3]
Member airlines
*Founding members.
Affiliates
Aeroméxico Connect- Aeroméxico Travel
Alitalia Express
Brit Air
Cityjet
Continental Connection (announced intent to leave SkyTeam for Star Alliance)- Continental Express (announced intent to leave SkyTeam for Star Alliance)
Continental Micronesia (announced intent to leave SkyTeam for Star Alliance)- Delta Connection
- Delta Shuttle
KLM Cityhopper- Northwest Airlink
- Régional
Future associate members
The following airlines are on track to become associate members:
Middle East Airlines [2] (sponsored by Air France)
TAROM [3] (initially sponsored by Alitalia, from May 2008 sponsored by Air France)
Potential future full members
- Note that there is much speculation about non-aligned airlines joining one of the global alliances. The list below includes airlines that have expressed their desire or are in the ongoing negotiations to join SkyTeam.
Air Algérie - In 2006, Air Algérie applied for admission to the alliance; its application has been sponsored by Air France. Air Algérie has been on the waiting list for membership since 2005 and plans to join the alliance in late 2008 or early 2009. SkyTeam hopes to integrate Air Algérie into the alliance and begin the use of electronic ticketing and launch a frequent flyer program for the airline named Air Algérie Plus. The SkyTeam also anticipates the purchase of new aircraft by Air Algérie.[4]
China Airlines - China Airlines already has extensive codeshare agreements with Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, Northwest Airlines, Czech Airlines, and Alitalia, and their vice president has also announced an intention to apply for membership by 2008. [5] They are set to be announced as the next full member of SkyTeam in late 2008 and have been in informal discussions since Fall 2007. [6]. In June 2008 the carrier have signed memorandum of co-operation with China Southern Airlines in the areas of passenger, cargo, maintenance, and ground handling operations [7]
China Eastern Airlines - Air France, along with China Southern[8] are lobbying at China Eastern Airlines to join the alliance, but the airline is also considering joining oneworld as they have codeshare agreements with American Airlines, British Airways, Japan Airlines and Qantas.[9][10]
Garuda Indonesia - In June 2008, Garuda Indonesia has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Korean Air, in which Korean Air will support Garuda in joining SkyTeam. [11][12]
Gol Airlines - SkyTeam is continuing to pursue its plans to add a Brazilian carrier in the alliance. It "has been talking with Gol in Brazil", says van Wijk. Gol is also the owner of Varig. [13]
Jet Airways - Leo van Wijk stated in a statement that SkyTeam is looking to add an Indian carrier in the near future counting on Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines. [13]- Kingfisher Airlines - Is in informal discussions to join the alliance.[14]
Malaysia Airlines - Malaysia Airlines reached an agreement with Air France-KLM to upgrade their codeshare agreements into an alliance in 2006. While there is no timetable for Malaysia Airlines to join SkyTeam, their current restructuring plan puts 2009-2010 as the target years.[15] Malaysia Airlines also reached an agreement with Alitalia and China Southern Airlines, SkyTeam members, to start code-sharing in 2007.[16]
Vietnam Airlines - In a statement, Leo van Wijk stated that SkyTeam is currently in formal discussions with Vietnam Airlines, and is expected to conclude talks this year, paving the way for the airline's entry next year. The airline currently codeshares with China Southern Airlines and Korean Air.[17][18] However, Japan Airlines from oneworld is lobbying the airline to join oneworld.[19]
Potential future associate members
Bangkok Airways - SkyTeam has been speaking with Bangkok Airways of Thailand about a possible affiliate membership. [18]
flyLAL Lithuanian Airlines is invited to join SkyTeam alliance as an associate member following a two year negotiation. Date of admission to SkyTeam alliance is to be confirmed soon. FlyLAL already has sharecode flights with KLM and Aeroflot. [20]
Uzbekistan Airways - Have announced in July 2008 that they are set to become a SkyTeam member after being sponsored by Korean Air. [21][22]
Co-locations
- Beijing Capital International Airport: Terminal 2
- Tokyo Narita Airport: Terminal 1 North Wing
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport: McNamara Terminal
Premium status
SkyTeam has two premium levels, Elite and Elite Plus, based on a customer's tier status in a member carrier's frequent flyer program. Each of the member and associate airlines recognizes the elite statuses, with a few exceptions. The statuses have no specific requirements of their own; membership is based solely on the frequent flyer programs of individual member airlines.
SkyTeam Elite
SkyTeam Elite status is awarded to customers who have reached the premium level of a member carrier's frequent flyer program.
Benefits of SkyTeam Elite membership:
- Priority reservations waitlisting
- Priority airport standby
- Priority boarding
- Priority check-in
- Preferred seating
Membership tiers granting SkyTeam Elite:
- Aeroflot (Aeroflot Bonus) - Silver
- Aeromexico (Club Premier) - Gold
- Air France-KLM (Flying Blue) - Gold (for residents of US and Mexico), Silver
- Alitalia (MilleMiglia) - Ulisse
- China Southern Airlines (Sky Pearl Club) – Silver
- Continental (OnePass) - Gold, Silver
- Czech (OK Plus) - Silver
- Delta (SkyMiles) - Gold Medallion, Silver Medallion
- Korean Air (SKYPASS) - Morning Calm
- Northwest (WorldPerks) - Gold, Silver
SkyTeam Elite Plus
SkyTeam Elite Plus status is awarded to customers who have reached the higher premium level of a member carrier's frequent flyer program.
Benefits of SkyTeam Elite Plus membership:
- Priority reservations waitlisting
- Priority airport standby
- Priority boarding
- Priority airport check-in
- Preferred seating
- Priority baggage handling
- Additional checked luggage allowance
- Airport lounge access
- Guaranteed reservations on sold-out flights
- Express airport security (in some hub airports)
Membership tiers granting SkyTeam Elite Plus:
- Aeroflot (Aeroflot Bonus) - Gold
- Aeromexico (Club Premier) - Platinum
- Air France-KLM (Flying Blue) - Platinum, Gold (for non-US/Mexican residents)
- Alitalia (MilleMiglia) - Freccia Alata
- China Southern - Gold, Platinum
- Continental (OnePass) - Platinum
- Czech (OK Plus) - Gold, Platinum
- Delta (SkyMiles) - Platinum Medallion
- Korean Air (SKYPASS) - Million Miler, Premium
- Northwest (WorldPerks) - Platinum
References
- ^ MEA Ξ press release
- ^ "SkyTeam Welcomes China Southern Airlines as First Chinese Carrier", SkyTeam.com (2007-11-15).
- ^ Continental Airlines To Leave SkyTeam For Star Alliance (Official Press Release: June 19, 2008)
- ^ http://www.algerie-dz.com/article6203.html Air Algérie doit se réinventer 13/04/2007
- ^ Taiwan's China Airlines to seek SkyTeam alliance membership in 2008 - UPDATE - Forbes.com
- ^ ATW Daily News
- ^ China Airlines and CSA Sign Comprehensive Co-Operation Agreement - Business - redOrbit
- ^ China Eastern Air, China Southern to cooperate | Industries | Industrials, Materials & Utilities | Reuters
- ^ "China Southern formally joins SkyTeam", atwonline.com (2007-11-16).
- ^ "China Eastern Airlines seeking to join Oneworld alliance", XFN-ASIA (2007-04-03).
- ^ http://www.etravelblackboardasia.com/article.asp?id=54593&nav=109
- ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/08/18/314873/garuda-in-bid-to-join-skyteam.html
- ^ a b News from IATA annual general meeting in Istanbul 2008
- ^ Kingfisher set to join SkyTeam05/31/2008
- ^ Malaysia Airlines to start talk to join SkyTeam 03/03/2007
- ^ Malaysia Airlines and China Southern Airlines establish strategic partnership through code-share agreement11/24/2007
- ^ Bangkok Post : Business news
- ^ a b News from IATA annual general meeting in Istanbul 2008
- ^ JAL to Enhance Ties with Vietnam Airlines
- ^ flyLAL– Lithuanian Airlines is invited to become a member of SkyTeam alliance 03/06/2008
- ^ [1]
- ^ Korean Air, Uzbekistan Airways Sign Cooperation Deal
External links
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