SkyTeam

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SkyTeam
Official Launch Date		June 22 2000
Members	Full	10
	Non-Voting	0
	Pending	6
Destinations Served	Airports	728
Destinations Served	Countries	149
Annual Passengers (M)		373
Fleet Size		2151
Website		skyteam.com

SkyTeam Alliance is the second largest airline alliance in the world — behind Star Alliance — partnering ten carriers from three continents.

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 1.

Nonetheless, Skyteam service to Australia and New Zealand is quite limited, making it the only worldwide airline alliance that does not provide a practical Round-The-World itinerary in the Southern Hemisphere. Also, it's the only alliance with no member airlines providing a one-plane Kangaroo route service.

1 Membership History
2 Members
3 Premium Status
- 3.1 SkyTeam Elite
- 3.2 SkyTeam Elite Plus
4 Destinations
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Membership History

2000 — Aeroméxico, Air France, Delta Air Lines, and Korean Air launch the SkyTeam alliance on June 22.
2001 — Czech Airlines and Alitalia join.
2004 — Continental Airlines, KLM and Northwest Airlines join in September. Their simultaneous entry has been the largest expansion event in airline alliance history. As a result of the three new members, SkyTeam passes Oneworld as the second-largest alliance.
2005 — Even though current member CSA pledged to help Malév Hungarian Airlines become 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 (partly owned and sponsored by Continental Airlines), Kenya Airways (partly owned and sponsored 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 scheme and Kenya Airways uses Air France-KLM's Flying Blue)
2006 — Aeroflot joined on April 14. Air Europa, Copa Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Tarom will launch the alliance's associate program.
2007 — China Southern Airlines will join the SkyTeam.

[edit] Members

[edit] Current Members:

Note+: The founding members of the SkyTeam Alliance.

[edit] Future Members:

[edit] Full members

Image:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China Southern Airlines [11] signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 28, 2004, being the first mainland Chinese airline to do so. An official agreement was announced on June 28, 2006. [12] Expected to be complete in 2007.[http://www.luchtzak.be/article11713.html/

[edit] Associate members

Image:Flag of Spain.svg Air Europa [13] (sponsored by Air France)
Image:Flag of Panama (bordered).svg COPA [14] (sponsored by Continental Airlines)
Image:Flag of Kenya.svg Kenya Airways [15] (sponsored by KLM)
TAROM [16] (sponsored by Alitalia)
Image:Flag of Lebanon.svg Middle East Airlines [17] (sponsored by Air France)

[edit] 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.

Image:Flag of Serbia (state) (bordered).svg Jat Airways - recently launched a campaign to join the alliance. ^{[citation needed]}
Image:Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia Airlines - the airline reached an agreement with Air France-KLM to upgrade their code-sharing agreement into an alliance in 2006. No timeframe has been given for MAS joining the alliance, but the company's restructuring plan puts this no later than 2008-2009. [18]

[edit] News:

On November 15, 2006, US Airways, a member of Star Alliance, offered to acquire Delta. If Delta were to accept the bid, it is unclear which alliance (Star or SkyTeam) the merged airline would remain in. Canadian Airlines moved to Star Alliance from oneworld after being acquired by Air Canada.[19]

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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
Continental (OnePass) - Gold, Silver
Czech (OK Plus) - Silver
Delta (SkyMiles) - Gold Medallion, Silver Medallion
Korean Air (SKYPASS) - Morning Calm
Northwest (WorldPerks) - Platinum, Gold, Silver

[edit] 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

[edit] Destinations

Further information: Skyteam destinations

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Official Website of SkyTeam

Image:Portal.svg

Aviation Portal

v • d • e</div> Members of the SkyTeam Alliance
Aeroflot • Aeroméxico • Air France • Alitalia • Continental Airlines Czech Airlines • Delta Air Lines • KLM • Korean Air • Northwest Airlines Future members: China Southern Airlines Future associate members: Air Europa • COPA • Kenya Airways • MEA • TAROM