SkyTeam
| File:SkyTeam.svg | |
| Launch date | 22 June 2000 |
|---|---|
| Full members | 9[1] |
| Pending members | 3 |
| Destination airports | 905 |
| Destination countries | 169 |
| Annual passengers (M) | 462 (Total Frequent Flyer Members = 152) |
| Fleet size | 2,971 (member airlines and their susidiaries), (+1,255 from related carriers) |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, the Netherlands |
| Management | Leo van Wijk (Chairman) |
| Alliance slogan | Caring more about you |
| Website | www.SkyTeam.com |
SkyTeam is the second largest airline alliance in the world – behind Star Alliance partnering eleven carriers from four continents. The company slogan is "Caring more about you." SkyTeam also operates a cargo alliance called SkyTeam Cargo.
With the merger of Northwest Airlines with Delta Air Lines completed, SkyTeam consists of 9 full members [2] and 2 associate members because Continental Airlines and associate member Copa Airlines both departed SkyTeam on 24 October 2009; Continental Airlines joined Star Alliance on October 27. However, the joining of Vietnam Airlines in early 2010 will bring the total number of full member airlines in the alliance back up to 10 and the joining of Tarom in Summer 2010 will bring the total of associate members in the alliance back up to 3.
The alliance's centralised management team, called SkyTeam Central, formed in 2009, is based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.[3]
Membership history
- 2000 — Aeroméxico, Air France, Delta Air Lines, and Korean Air launched the SkyTeam alliance on 22 June.
- 2001 — CSA Czech Airlines (in March) and Alitalia (on 27 July) joined.
- 2003 - Delta's subsidiary Delta Express was replaced by Song.
- 2004 — Continental Airlines, KLM and Northwest Airlines joined on 13 September. 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 14 April. Delta's subsidiary Song continues to operate as Delta Air Lines.
- 2007 — Air Europa, Copa Airlines, Kenya Airways became associate members of the alliance on 1 September. China Southern Airlines joined SkyTeam on November 15 to become the 11th full member and the first carrier from Mainland China to join SkyTeam. Aeromexico's subsidiary Aerolitoral became Aeromexico Connect.[4]
- 2008 - Continental Airlines and Copa Airlines have announced their intentions to move to the Star Alliance after Continental's final flight with SkyTeam on 24 October 2009. Alitalia-Linee Aeree Italiane re-launched operations to the new Alitalia.
- 2009 - On October 24, Continental Airlines and Copa Airlines left SkyTeam and joined Star Alliance on October 27 for United Airlines.[5]
- 2010 - On January 1, Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines's operating certificates were officially combined. Vietnam Airlines is expected to join in June 2010. Tarom is expected become an associate member Summer 2010.
Member airlines
Full members and their member & non-member affiliates
| Member airline | Country | Joined | Member affiliates | Non-member affiliates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aeroflot |  Russia |
Donavia Nordavia |
— | |
| Aeroméxico[A] |  Mexico |
Aeroméxico Connect Aeroméxico Travel |
— | |
| Air France[A][B] |  France |
Brit Air  CityJet Régional |
Transavia France
| |
| Alitalia |  Italy |
Alitalia Express |
Air One Air One CityLiner Volareweb
| |
| China Southern Airlines |  China |
— | Chongqing Airlines Xiamen Airlines
| |
| Czech Airlines |  Czech Republic |
— | — | |
| Delta Air Lines[A] |  United States |
Delta Connection Delta Shuttle |
Delta AirElite
| |
| KLM Royal Dutch Airlines[B] |  Netherlands |
KLM Cityhopper |
Transavia Airlines Martinair
| |
| Korean Air[A] |  South Korea |
— | Jin Air
|
A Founding member[6]
B Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are part of the airline holding company Air France-KLM[7]
Associate members
| Associate member airline | Country | Joined | Affiliates | Sponsoring SkyTeam member |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Europa |  Spain |
— | Air France
| |
| Kenya Airways |  Kenya |
— | KLM
|
Former member and member affiliates
| Former member airline | Country | Joined | Exited | Member affiliates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alitalia-Linee Aeree Italiane[C] | Italy |
Alitalia Express Volare Airlines
| ||
| Continental Airlines[A] | United States |
Continental Connection operated by: → Cape Air → Colgan Air → CommutAir → Gulfstream International Airlines Continental Express operated by: → Chautauqua Airlines → ExpressJet Airlines  Continental Micronesia
| ||
| Northwest Airlines[B] | United States |
Northwest Airlink
|
A Left the alliance to join Star Alliance with United Airlines
B Northwest Airlines' operating certificate was combined with Delta Air Lines'. Northwest Airlines ceased operating as a separate carrier and all of its flights now operate under the Delta Air Lines' name
C Alitalia re-launched operations in 2008
| Former member affiliate | Country | Joined | Exited | Member affiliate of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerolitoral[C] | Mexico |
Aeromexico
| ||
| VLM Airlines[A] |  Belgium |
Air France
| ||
| Song Airlines[B] | United States |
Delta Air Lines
| ||
| Delta Express[A] | United States |
Delta Air Lines
|
A A founding affiliate member.
B Song's operations became part of Delta's fleet.
C A founding affiliate member and relaunched as Aeromexico Connect.
Former associate members
| Former associate member | Country | Joined | Exited | Member affiliates | Previously Sponsored Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copa Airlines |  Panama |
 AeroRepública |
Continental Airlines
|
Future full members
| Future member airline | Country | Joining | Member affiliates | Non-member affiliates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam Airlines |  Vietnam |
-- |  Cambodia Angkor Air Vietnam Air Service Company (VASCO)
|
Future associate members
| Airline | Country | Joining | Associate member affiliates | Sponsoring SkyTeam member |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAROM |  Romania |
- | Air France
| |
| MEA |  Lebanon |
- | Air France
|
Possible 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 ongoing negotiations to join SkyTeam.
| Airline | Country | Member affiliates | Non-member affiliates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Algérie |  Algeria |
— | — |
| Air Tahiti Nui |  French Polynesia |
— | — |
| China Airlines |  Taiwan |
Mandarin Airlines |
— |
| Garuda Indonesia[10] |  Indonesia |
Citilink |
- |
| Jet Airways |  India |
— | — |
| Malaysia Airlines |  Malaysia |
MASwings |
Firefly (airline) |
| Olympic Air |  Greece |
— | — |
| Virgin Blue[11] |  Australia |
V Australia  Pacific Blue
|
— |
Possible future associate members
|
| Airline | Country | Associate member affiliates | Sponsor SkyTeam member |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok Airways |  Thailand |
- | Korean Air
|
| Cambodia Angkor Air | Cambodia |
- | Vietnam Airlines
|
| Jat Airways |  Serbia |
- | Air France
|
| Armavia |  Armenia |
- | Air France
|
SkyTeam member hubs
Co-locations
Asia
- Beijing Capital International Airport: Terminal 2.
- Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat International Airport: Terminal 2
- Incheon International Airport: East Side of Main Terminal for check-in
- Beirut city Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport: West Terminal
- Tokyo Narita International Airport: Terminal 1 North Wing, except that China Southern Airlines currently operates from Terminal 2.
North America (except USA)
- Mexico City International Airport: Terminal 2, Air France and KLM are not moving their operations until the new cargo terminal is built aside Terminal 2, since the existing one is at the other side of the airport.
- Monterrey General Mariano Escobedo International Airport: When terminal B opens Aeromexico, Aeromexico Connect and SkyTeam member airlines will move into the new terminal.
- Toronto Pearson International Airport: Terminal 3, except Alitalia that currently operates from Terminal 1.
Europe
- Frankfurt Airport: Terminal 2
- London Heathrow Airport: Terminal 4
- Madrid Barajas Airport: Terminal 1 for international flights and Terminal 2 for European and domestic flights.
- Manchester Airport: Terminal 2
- Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport: Terminals 2E and 2F2 handle all international members, terminals 2D and 2F1 all European; Air France operates from 2C,2D,2E,2F and 2G.
USA
- Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: Landside - Terminal South except for KLM and Korean Air in Terminal North. Airside - Concourses T, A, B, C, D, E(International)
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport: Terminal 2 (Delta) International Terminal 5 (Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, KLM, Korean Air)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport: Terminal 3
- Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport: Terminal D (KLM & Korean Air), Terminal E (Delta)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport: McNamara Terminal
- Los Angeles International Airport: Terminal 2 (Air France, KLM, Aeromexico, Aeromexico Connect), Tom Bradley International Terminal (Aeroflot, China Southern, Korean Air), Terminals 5 and 6 (Delta)
- New York Newark Liberty International Airport: Terminal B houses Delta Air Lines, Air France and Alitalia.
- New York John F. Kennedy International Airport: Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4
- New York LaGuardia Airport: Delta Terminal and Marine Air Terminal (Delta shuttle flights to Boston, Chicago, and Washington)
- San Francisco International Airport: International Terminal Boarding Area A (International members, Delta international flights), Terminal 1 Boarding Areas B & C (Delta domestic flights)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport: South Satellite 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 recognises 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) - Freccia Alata
- China Southern Airlines (Sky Pearl Club) – Silver
- Czech (OK Plus) - Silver
- Delta (SkyMiles) - Gold Medallion, Silver Medallion
- Korean Air (SKYPASS) - Morning Calm
- Vietnam Airlines (Golden Lotus Plus) - Titanium (from June 2010)
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 Plus
- China Southern - Gold, Platinum
- Czech (OK Plus) - Gold, Platinum
- Delta (SkyMiles) - Platinum, Diamond Medallion
- Korean Air (SKYPASS) - Million Miler, Premium
- Vietnam Airlines (Golden Lotus Plus) - Gold (from June 2010)
SkyTeam Special Livery
SkyTeam launched recently a special livery celebrating its ten year anniversary.
Current
| Country | Airline | Aircraft | Registration | Completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Aeroflot | Airbus A330-343X | VQ-BCQ | October 2009 |
|
|
AeroMéxico | Boeing 767-200ER | XA-JBC | May 2009 |
|
|
Air France | Boeing 777-300ER | F-GZNE | June 2009 |
|
|
Alitalia | Boeing 767-300ER | EI-DBP | May 2009 |
|
|
China Southern Airlines | Boeing 777-200ER | B-2056 | June 2009 |
|
|
Czech Airlines | ATR 42-500 | OK-JFL | May 2009 |
|
|
Delta Air Lines | Boeing 757-200 Boeing 767-400ER |
N717TW N844MH |
September 2009 April 2009 |
|
|
KLM | Boeing 777-300ER | PH-BVD | August 2009 |
|
|
Korean Air | Boeing 777-200ER | HL7733 | October 2009 |
|
|
Vietnam Airlines | Boeing 777-200ER[citation needed] | Pending | Future |
References
- ^ http://www.skyteam.com/about/carriers/index.html
- ^ http://www.skyteam.com/about/carriers/index.html
- ^ "SkyTeam Marks Major Milestones Toward A Centralized Organization". SkyTeam.com. 25 July 2009.
- ^ "SkyTeam Welcomes China Southern Airlines as First Chinese Carrier". SkyTeam.com. 15 November 2007.
- ^ Continental Airlines To Leave SkyTeam For Star Alliance (Official Press Release: June 19, 2008)
- ^ "SkyTeam Milestones" (PDF). SkyTeam. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
- ^ "Our SkyTeam Carriers". SkyTeam. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
- ^ a b "SkyTeam NewsFlash – October 2009" (Press release). SkyTeam. October 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
- ^ SkyTeam Welcomes Middle East Airlines from www.skyteam.com 16 January 2006
- ^ Garuda to triple capacity by 2014 from www.ainonline.com 3 February 2010
- ^ http://www.smh.com.au/business/virgin-hints-at-signing-up-to-skyteam-20100126-mwc0.html
External links
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
