SkyTeam

Infobox Airline alliance
alliance = SkyTeam

---

size = 100px
launch_date = June 22, 2000
full_members = 11
sponsored_members = 3
future_members = 3
airports = 841
countries = 162
annual_passengers = 427.6
annual_RPK =
fleet = 2513
key_people = Leo van Wijk (Chairman)
website = [http://www.skyteam.com www.SkyTeam.com]
updated = November 2007

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 SkyTeam members except for Continental Cargo.

Membership history

*2000 — Aeroméxico, Air France, Delta Air Lines, and Korean Air launched the SkyTeam alliance on June 22.
*2001 — CSA Czech Airlines (in March) and Alitalia (on July 27) joined.
*2004 — Continental Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest Airlines joined on September 13. Their simultaneous entry was the largest expansion event in airline alliance history. As a result of the three new members, SkyTeam passed Oneworld to become the second largest alliance.
*2005 — Even though 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 opted to join the Oneworld alliance, signing a Memorandum Of Understanding late in May. A few days later SkyTeam announced 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 adopted a frequent flyer program of a full member: Copa Airlines already used Continental's "OnePass" while Kenya Airways and Air Europa used Air France-KLM's "Flying Blue".
*2006 — Aeroflot joined on April 14. Middle East Airlines was invited to become an associate member. [ [http://www.mea.com.lb/MEA/English/Corporate/PressReleases/20060116.htm MEA Ξ press release ] ]
*2007 — Air Europa, Copa Airlines, Kenya Airways became 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. [cite news | title=SkyTeam Welcomes China Southern Airlines as First Chinese Carrier | url=http://www.skyteam.com/EN/aboutSkyteam/pressCenter/pr151107.jsp | publisher=SkyTeam.com | date=2007-11-15 | ]
*2008 - Continental Airlines announced its intention to move to the Star Alliance. [ [http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/news/alliance.aspx Continental Airlines To Leave SkyTeam For Star Alliance] (Official Press Release: June 19, 2008)]

Member airlines

^{*Founding members.}

Affiliates

*flagicon|Mexico Aeroméxico Connect (Aeroméxico)
*flagicon|Mexico Aeroméxico Travel (Aeroméxico)
*flagicon|Italy Alitalia Express (Alitalia)
*flagicon|France Brit Air (Air France)
*flagicon|Ireland Cityjet (Air France)
*flagicon|USA Continental Connection (Continental Airlines) (announced intent to leave SkyTeam for Star Alliance)
*flagicon|USA Continental Express (Continental Airlines) (announced intent to leave SkyTeam for Star Alliance)
*flagicon| Guam Continental Micronesia (Continental Airlines) (announced intent to leave SkyTeam for Star Alliance)
*flagicon|USA Delta Connection (Delta Air Lines)
*flagicon|USA Delta Shuttle (Delta Air Lines)
*flagicon|The Netherlands KLM Cityhopper (KLM)
*flagicon|USA Northwest Airlink (Northwest Airlines)
*flagicon|France Régional (Air France)

Future associate members

The following airlines wish to become associate members:
*flagicon|Lebanon Middle East Airlines [http://www.mea.com.lb/] (sponsored by Air France)
*flagicon|Romania TAROM [http://www.tarom.ro/en/] (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."

*flagicon|Algeria 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. [http://www.algerie-dz.com/article6203.html "Air Algérie doit se réinventer" 13/04/2007]
*flagicon|Taiwan 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. [ [http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2007/05/11/afx3710483.html Taiwan's China Airlines to seek SkyTeam alliance membership in 2008 - UPDATE - Forbes.com ] ] 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. [ [http://atwonline.com/news/other.html?issueDate=1%2F14%2F2008 ATW Daily News ] ] . 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 [ [http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1447522/china_airlines_and_csa_sign_comprehensive_cooperation_agreement/ China Airlines and CSA Sign Comprehensive Co-Operation Agreement - Business - redOrbit ] ]
*flagicon|China China Eastern Airlines - Air France, along with China Southern [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSSHA8270120080123 China Eastern Air, China Southern to cooperate | Industries | Industrials, Materials & Utilities | Reuters ] ] 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. [cite news | title=China Southern formally joins SkyTeam | url=http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=10854 | publisher=atwonline.com | date=2007-11-16 | ] [cite news | title=China Eastern Airlines seeking to join Oneworld alliance | url=http://www.abcmoney.co.uk/news/03200750089.htm | publisher=XFN-ASIA | date=2007-04-03 | ] At the moment, the Chinese government, is considering a merger with Shanghai Airlines, which is a member of Star Alliance. [ [http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a13U0d2zOsWI ] ]
*flagicon|Indonesia 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. [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]
*flagicon|Brazil 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. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/06/18/224696/vietnam-airlines-to-join-skyteam.html News from IATA annual general meeting in Istanbul 2008] ]
*flagicon|India 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.
*flagicon|India Kingfisher Airlines - Is in informal discussions to join the alliance. [ [http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php? Kingfisher set to join SkyTeam] 05/31/2008]
*flagicon|Malaysia 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 restructuring plan puts 2009-2010 as the target years. [ [http://www.luchtzak.be/article11231.html "Malaysia Airlines to start talk to join SkyTeam"] 03/03/2007] Malaysia Airlines also reached an agreement with Alitalia and China Southern Airlines, SkyTeam members, to start code-sharing in 2007. [ [http://www.routesonline.com/news/view/?id=13969" Malaysia Airlines and China Southern Airlines establish strategic partnership through code-share agreement"] 11/24/2007]
*flagicon|Vietnam Vietnam Airlines - In a statement, Leo van Wijk stated that SkyTeam is 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 codeshares with China Southern Airlines and Korean Air. [ [http://www.bangkokpost.com/060608_Business/06Jun2008_biz40.php Bangkok Post : Business news ] ] [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/06/18/224696/vietnam-airlines-to-join-skyteam.html News from IATA annual general meeting in Istanbul 2008] ] However, Japan Airlines from oneworld is lobbying the airline to join oneworld. [ [http://www.japancorp.net/Article.Asp?Art_ID=17700 JAL to Enhance Ties with Vietnam Airlines ] ]
*flagicon|French Polynesia Air Tahiti Nui considers joining SkyTeam after reviewing options with other alliances which all are well established in the South Pacific [http://www.tahitipresse.pf/index.cfm?snav=see&presse=25317&lang=2]

Potential future associate members

*flagicon|Thailand Bangkok Airways - SkyTeam has been speaking with Bangkok ­Airways of Thailand about a ­possible affiliate membership.
*flagicon|Lithuania 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. [ [http://www.flylal.com/en/bottom/news?id=109000 flyLAL– Lithuanian Airlines is invited to become a member of SkyTeam alliance] 03/06/2008]
*flagicon|Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Airways - Have announced in July 2008 that they are set to become a SkyTeam member after being sponsored by Korean Air. [ [http://www.uzairways.com/news.aspx?ctl=News&dId=1299&pid=0&cls=1] ] [ [http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/080225/16/4euc0.html Korean Air, Uzbekistan Airways Sign Cooperation Deal] ]

Co-locations

*Beijing Capital International Airport: Terminal 2
*Tokyo Narita International Airport: Terminal 1 North Wing (China Southern Airlines curently operates from Terminal 2)
*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.

kyTeam 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

kyTeam 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

External links

* [http://www.skyteam.com/ Official SkyTeam website]
* [http://www.gnopps.com/skyteam/ Unofficial info about SkyTeam programs]

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