SKYTEAM

'SkyTeam' is the second largest airline alliance in the world — behind Star Alliance — partnering thirteen carriers from four continents, with three pending members. The stated benefits and goals of the alliance are:

★ Easy frequent flyer mile collection and redemption across carriers

★ Reciprocal airport lounge access between carriers

★ Guaranteed reservations for Elite Plus customers

★ More available flights and easier connections between carriers

★ More fare options

★ Unified check-in for all carriers

★ Consistent quality standards across carriers

★ One reservation network for all members
SkyTeam calls itself the "first alliance built around customer needs." In 2005, SkyTeam was the world's best airline alliance, according to the readers of Global Traveler Magazine. Again in 2006, readers of Global Traveler Magazine rated SkyTeam as the best airline alliance. SkyTeam also operates a cargo alliance called SkyTeam Cargo with all current SkyTeam members except for Continental Cargo.

Contents

Membership history

Member airlines

Current members and affiliates

Affiliates

Associate members

Future members

Future Associate members

Potential future members

Premium status

SkyTeam Elite

SkyTeam Elite Plus

Destinations

See also

References

External links

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 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 (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 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.

★ 2007 — 2008 China Southern Airlines will join SkyTeam.

★ 2008 - Jat Airways will join Skyteam

Member airlines

Current members and affiliates

★ Aeroflot [1]

★ Aeroméxico''
★ '' [2]

★ Air France''
★ '' [3]

★ Alitalia [4]

★ Continental Airlines [5]

★ Czech Airlines [6]

★ Delta Air Lines''
★ '' [7]

★ KLM [8]

★ Korean Air''
★ '' [9]

★ Northwest Airlines [10]
''
★ '' Founding members

Affiliates

★ Aeroméxico Connect

★ Alitalia Express

★ Brit Air

★ Cityjet [11]

★ Continental Connection

★ Continental Express

★ Continental Micronesia

★ Delta Connection

★ Delta Shuttle

★ KLM Asia

★ KLM Cityhopper

★ Northwest Airlink

★ Régional [12]

Associate members

★ Air Europa [13]

★ Copa Airlines [14]

★ Kenya Airways [15]

Future members

★ China Southern Airlines [16] — is on track for official alliance membership. It signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 28, 2004, being the first mainland Chinese airline to do so. An official Global Airline Alliance Adherence Agreement (GAAAA) was announced on June 28, 2006 [17]. China Southern Airlines will officially become a member of SkyTeam once bilateral codesharing, frequent flyer and lounge agreements with each of the SkyTeam carriers are in place and the carrier satisfies all SkyTeam membership requirements. Completion of these requirements is expected in late 2007. ^[2] [18]

Future Associate members

The following airlines are on track to become associate members:

★ Middle East Airlines [19] (sponsored by Air France)

★ TAROM [20] (sponsored by Alitalia)

Potential future members

''Note that there is much speculation about non-aligned airlines joining one of the global alliances. The list below only includes airlines that have expressed their desire to join SkyTeam or are in negotiations to do so.''

★ Air Algérie - In 2006, Air Algerie applied for admission to the alliance; its application has been sponsored by Air France.^[3].

★ Malaysia Airlines - Malaysia Airlines reached an agreement with Air France-KLM to upgrade their code-sharing agreement into an alliance in 2006. While there is no timetable for Malaysia Airlines to join SkyTeam, their current restructuring plan puts 2007-2008 as the target years.^[4] . In 2007, Malaysia Airlines also reached an agreement with SkyTeam Member, Alitalia to start code-sharing in 2007.

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 (joining SkyTeam in late 2007)

★ 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

★ Continental (OnePass) - Platinum

★ Czech (OK Plus) - Gold

★ Delta (SkyMiles) - Platinum Medallion

★ Korean Air (SKYPASS) - Million Miler, Premium

★ Northwest (WorldPerks) - Platinum

Destinations

See also

★ Oneworld

★ Star Alliance

★ Wings Alliance (a tentative alliance between several airlines that later joined SkyTeam)

★ AACO (regional airline trade organisation)

References

1. http://www.mea.com.lb/MEA/English/Corporate/PressReleases/20060116.htm
2.
3.
''Air Algérie doit se réinventer'' from ''www.algerie-dz.com'' 13/04/2007
4. ''Malaysia Airlines to start talk to join SkyTeam'' from ''www.luchtzak.be'' 03/03/2007

External links

★ Official Website of SkyTeam

★ Unofficial info about SkyTeam programs