 | |
| Launch date | 22 June 2000 |
|---|---|
| Full members | 13 |
| Pending members | 4 |
| Destination airports | 898 |
| Destination countries | 169 |
| Annual passengers (M) | 385 (Total Frequent Flyer Members = 116) |
| Fleet size | 2,186 mainline fleet (+1,199 from related carriers) |
| Management | Leo van Wijk(Chairman) |
| Alliance slogan | Caring more about you |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Haarlemmermeer,Netherlands |
| Website | www.SkyTeam.com |
SkyTeam, branded as SKYTEAM, is an airline alliance with its centralised management team, SkyTeam Central, based in the World Trade Center Schiphol Airport on the grounds of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands.SkyTeam was founded in 2000 by Aeroméxico, Air France, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air – the last of the three airline alliances to be formed – but has grown to become second largest airline alliance in the world (in passenger number terms and members), behind Star Alliance and ahead of Oneworld. The alliance currently consists of thirteen carriers from four continents, with the slogan "Caring more about you". SkyTeam also operates a cargo alliance called SkyTeam Cargo. As of October 2010, the alliance and its members have a total workforce of 316,445.
In 2004, the alliance had the biggest expansion when Continental Airlines, KLM and Northwest Airlines joined simultaneously as full members. In 2010, the alliance celebrated its 10th anniversary with the introduction of a SkyTeam livery, the joining of and upgrading of status 4 airlines, followed by the announcements of Aerolíneas Argentinas, China Eastern Airlines, China Airlines and Garuda Indonesia to become full members.
As of October 2010, SkyTeam and its future members flies to 898 airports in 169 countries. It operates over 12,500 flights with a combined fleet of 3,400 aircraft (including associate carriers). Furthermore, the alliance has 420 lounges worldwide to serve its 385 million annual passengers. Besides its passenger-carrying business, SkyTeam also runs a separate cargo alliance – SkyTeam Cargo – which partners eight carriers who are all SkyTeam members.
Membership history
Formations and early years
 |
| A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-200(N717TW) in the SkyTeam livery |
On 22 June 2000, representatives of the four founding carriers–Aeroméxico, Air France, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air–held a meeting in New York to announce the founding of the third airline alliance, named SkyTeam™. Upon the formation, SkyTeam, would offer its customers a total of 6402 daily flights to 451 destinations, in 98 countries.
In September 2000, the alliance established a cargo alliance, SkyTeam Cargo™, as it focuses more on cargo operations. The group's inaugural members are Aeromexpress, Air France Cargo, Delta Air Logistics and Korean Air Cargo. The following month, the newly-established airline alliance announced its intentions to grant CSA Czech Airlines membership.
The year 2001 saw the joining of CSA Czech Airlines on 25 March and Alitalia on 27 July. On 30 September, the alliance received KLM's application for membership, following the airline's plans to create a leading airline group with Air France. In 2003, Delta's subsidiary Delta Express was replaced by Song. That same year, SkyTeam also launched an improved website, focused on providing passengers with more information, increased interactivity, and other resources.
Biggest expansion
 |
| A Czech Airlines ATR 42 (OK-JFL). The airline was the first recruit following the alliance's formation |
On 24 May 2004, Aeroflot, the flag carrier and principal airline of Russia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SkyTeam as it intends to become a full member. The event took place in Kremlin, following the airline's application earlier in the year for membership. SkyTeam says that Aeroflot has not met the consortium's standards, but the airline's large hub networks makes it ideal for the alliance.
On 28 August, China Southern Airlines, the largest carrier in the People's Republic of China, signed a preliminary agreement in Guangzhou, in its bid to become a full member. In the presence of a number of Chinese and airline officials, Yan Zhiqing, Chairman of China Southern, said, "This agreement-signing event is an important step forward into the future for China Southern Airlines to adapt itself to the need of further reforms and opening to the international community, as it will strengthen the airline's international cooperation and global competitiveness."
On 13 September, Continental Airlines, KLM and Northwest Airlines joined the alliance. 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, serving more than 341 million customers with 14,320 daily flights to 658 destinations in 130 countries.
2005–2006
Even though member CSA Czech Airlines 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 Hungarian Airlines 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.
 |
| An Alitalia (the one which succeeds Alitalia-Linee Aeree Italiane) Boeing 767-300ER, registered as EI-DBP, is seen here in SkyTeam livery. (2010) |
Aeroflot joined on 14 April 2006 following a 24-month joining process since May 2004, the first Russian airline to be associated with an airline alliance. Aeroflot has increased its operational standards, passing International Air Transport Association's (IATA) Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). Delta's subsidiary Song continued to operate as Delta Air Lines. In June, it was announced that Portugália would become the alliance's next associate member candidate, however, in November, rival airline (and Star Alliance member) TAP Portugal, purchased 99.81% of the airline, bringing an end to its candidacy.
2007 expansion
On 4 September 2007, Air Europa, Copa Airlines, Kenya Airways became members of SkyTeam's Associate program, which was launched to serve airlines in strategic regions who are intending to become affiliated with the alliance. China Southern Airlines joined SkyTeam on 15 November to become the 11th full member and the first carrier from Mainland China to join SkyTeam. Aeromexico's subsidiary Aerolitoral became Aeromexico Connect.
2008–2009: Departure of airlines and new initiatives
 |
| An Air France Boeing 777-300ER (F-GZNE) in the special SkyTeam livery, which was unveiled in 2009 |
Continental Airlines and Copa Airlines 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 as the new Alitalia.
In 2009, the alliance announced initiatives towards a centralised management system, based in Amsterdam. The consortium also named a new managing director and a timeline outlining the opening of its co-located facilities at London Heathrow Airport. A new special livery was also unveiled. On 24 October, Continental Airlines and Copa Airlines simultaneously left SkyTeam, after which Continental Airlines would join Star Alliance on 27 October. At the time, it was rumoured that the switch is Continental's initial move in its plan of a United-Continental merge.
10th anniversary
To start off 2010, Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines's operating certificates were officially combined on 1 January, while on 9 March, China Southern Airlines announced its plans to join SkyTeam Cargo. With membership expected to be granted in November, the airline will be the first Chinese carrier to join a global air cargo alliance. On 16 April, China Eastern Airlines announced its intentions to join the alliance, with the official joining ceremony expected to take place mid-2011. The announcement came after the airline's merge with Shanghai Airlines, a member of SkyTeam's rival Star Alliance.
On 10 June, Vietnam Airlines became a full member following a joining ceremony held in Hanoi. The airline, therefore, became the first SkyTeam carrier from Southeast Asia, where Star Alliance has a strong presence through Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways. With an extra 20 unique destinations added to SkyTeam's route map, Vietnam Airlines helps strengthen the alliance's foothold in the region.
On 22 June, the CEOs and Chairmen of the 13 member airlines gathered in New York to celebrate the alliance's 10th anniversary. During its first decade of operation, the world's second largest airline alliance more than tripled its membership, doubled it flights and nearly doubled the alliance's destinations. On the same day, SkyTeam announced that it had renewed its membership program, thereby upgrading Air Europa and Kenya Airways membership status from associate members to full members, and making TAROM a future full member of the alliance. During the ceremony, the Board outlined its plans to recruit members from Latin America, South America and India. Three days later, TAROM officially became a member of SkyTeam. As part of the celebration, SkyTeam offered reductions of round-the-world fares and other promotions. Following the 10th anniversary, SkyTeam intends to enhance customers' travel experience and deepen co-operation among its members to supplement the expansion into regions that are yet to have SkyTeam members.
“ In South America, India and Africa, it is clear there will be a significant battle for positioning to lure good carriers in your alliance. ”
—Leo van Wijk, Chairman during a 10th anniversary event of SkyTeam
During the year, Delta Air Lines offered US$1.02 billion to Japan Airlines after the Asian airline filed for bankruptcy due to US$26 billion debt, at the same time lobbying Oneworld's largest member in Asia to switch to SkyTeam. Delta, along with American Airlines, wanted Japan Airlines to be in their respective alliances to benefit from the U.S.–Japan Open Skies agreement. Eventually, Japan Airlines opted to remain at Oneworld, citing that the transfer to SkyTeam would confuse its passengers, and may not gain anti-trust immunity from U.S. regulators.
 |
| China Airlines will join SkyTeam as a full member in 2011. |
On 14 September, in space of 5 months, SkyTeam received its second application for full membership. China Airlines, the flag carrier and largest carrier of Republic of China, announced that it has formally started the joining process. Upon joining, the airline's route network will supplement those of China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines, allowing cooperation among the three airlines, as well as strengthening SkyTeam's presence not only in both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China, but throughout the Asia-Pacific region. The following month, October, Aerolíneas Argentinas would sign an agreement to officially start the process of becoming the first South American SkyTeam member. The airline is set to join in 2012.
On 1 November, Shanghai Airlines switched from Star Alliance to SkyTeam under its parent company, future SkyTeam member, China Eastern Airlines. This bolstered SkyTeam's presence in the People's Republic of China and surrounding areas, making the SkyTeam the number 1 alliance in the region. Garuda Indonesia, the flag carrier of Indonesia, formally started its joining process on 23 November, and is scheduled to be integrated by 2012.Upon joining, the airline will become the second Southeast Asian airline to join SkyTeam, therefore challenging Star Alliance's dominance in the region through Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines.
Member airlines
Members and their member & non-member affiliates
Member airline Country Joined Member affiliates Non-member affiliates
Aeroflot Russia
2006
Donavia
Nordavia Rossiya
Aeroméxico[A] Mexico
2000
Aeroméxico Connect
Aeroméxico Travel —
Air Europa Spain
2007
— —
Air France[A][B] France
2000
Brit Air
CityJet
Régional transavia.com France (60%)
Alitalia Italy
2009
Alitalia Express
Air One CityLiner Air One Smart Carrier
China Southern Airlines China
2007
— Chongqing Airlines
Xiamen Airlines
Czech Airlines Czech Republic
2001
— —
Delta Air Lines[A] United States
2000
Delta Connection
Delta Shuttle
Delta AirElite
Kenya Airways Kenya
2007
— —
KLM[B] Netherlands
2004
KLM Cityhopper Martinair
transavia.com
transavia.com France (40%)
transavia.com Denmark (until April 2011)
Korean Air[A] South Korea
2000
— Jin Air
TAROM Romania
2010
— —
Vietnam Airlines Vietnam
2010
— Cambodia Angkor Air
Vietnam Air Service Company (VASCO)
A Founding member
B Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are part of the airline holding company Air France-KLM
Former members
Former member airline Country Joined Exited Member affiliates
Alitalia-Linee Aeree Italiane[A] Italy
2001
2009
Alitalia Express
Volare Airlines
Continental Airlines United States
2004
2009
Continental Connection operated by:
→ Cape Air
→ Colgan Air
→ CommutAir
→ Gulfstream International Airlines
Continental Express operated by:
→ Chautauqua Airlines
→ ExpressJet Airlines
Continental Micronesia
Northwest Airlines United States
2004
2009
Northwest Airlink
A Alitalia re-launched operations in 2009
B Left the alliance to join Star Alliance with United Airlines
C 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
Former member affiliate Country Joined Exited Member affiliate of
Aerolitoral[A] Mexico
2000
2007
Aeromexico
Delta Express[B] United States
2000
2003
Delta Air Lines
Song Airlines[C] United States
2003
2006
Delta Air Lines
VLM Airlines[D] Belgium
2000
2009
Air France
A A founding affiliate member and relaunched as Aeromexico Connect.
B A founding affiliate member. Replaced by Song Airlines.
C Song's operations became part of Delta's fleet.
D A founding affiliate member and merged with CityJet.
Former associate member Country Joined Exited Member affiliates
Copa Airlines[A] Panama
2007
2009
AeroRepública
A Left the alliance on October 24, 2009 and will join Star Alliance in mid-2012.
Future members
.jpg)
Future member airline Country Joining Member affiliates Non-member affiliates
Aerolíneas Argentinas Argentina
2012
Austral Líneas Aéreas Aerochaco
China Airlines Taiwan
Mid-2011
Mandarin Airlines —
China Eastern Airlines China
Mid-2011
Shanghai Airlines —
Garuda Indonesia Indonesia
Early-2012
— Citilink
Possible future members
Airline Country Member affiliates Non-member affiliates
Aer Lingus Ireland Aer Lingus Regional —
Air Algérie Algeria — —
Gulf Air Bahrain — —
Jet Airways India — Jet Konnect
JetLite
Malaysia Airlines Malaysia MASwings Firefly
Middle East Airlines Lebanon — —
Saudi Arabian Airlines Saudi Arabia — —
Virgin Atlantic UK — —
Virgin Blue Australia Pacific Blue
V Australia —
SkyTeam Cargo
SkyTeam Cargo is a cargo division of SkyTeam. SkyTeam Cargo is the bigger of the world's two cargo alliances, ahead of its rival WOW Alliance. The cargo alliance partners eight members from the passenger alliance – Aeromexpress, Air France Cargo, Alitalia Cargo, China Southern Cargo, CSA Cargo, Delta Air Logistics, KLM Cargo and Korean Air Cargo.
]Benefits and services
Members' hubs
Member Airline Country Hub Airport(s)
Aeroflot Russia Sheremetyevo International Airport (Moscow)
Aerolíneas Argentinas (future member) Argentina
Argentina Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (Buenos Aires)
Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Buenos Aires)
Aeroméxico Mexico Mexico City International Airport
Air Europa Spain Madrid Barajas Airport
Air France France Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport
Alitalia Italy Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (Rome)
China Airlines (future member) Taiwan Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (Taipei)
China Eastern Airlines (future member) China
China Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
China Southern Airlines China
China Beijing Capital International Airport
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
Czech Airlines Czech Republic Prague - Ruzyně Airport
Delta Air Lines Netherlands
France
USA
Japan Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Memphis International Airport
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York)
Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport
Narita International Airport (Tokyo)
Garuda Indonesia (future member) Indonesia
Indonesia Ngurah Rai International Airport (Denpasar)
Soekarno–Hatta International Airport (Jakarta)
Kenya Airways Kenya Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Nairobi)
KLM Netherlands Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Korean Air South Korea
South Korea Gimpo International Airport (Seoul)
Incheon International Airport (Seoul)
TAROM Romania Henri Coandă International Airport (Bucharest)
Vietnam Airlines Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi)
Long Thanh International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City, future airport)
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)
Co-locations
Asia
Airport Terminal
Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 2
Narita International Airport (Tokyo) Terminal 1 North Wing, except China Southern Airlines
and Vietnam Airlines (Terminal 2)
Incheon International Airport (Seoul) Concourse A except, Korean Air (East Side of Main Terminal)
Europe
Airport Terminal
Henri Coandă International Airport (Bucharest) Terminal 1
Frankfurt Airport Terminal 2
London Heathrow Airport Terminal 4
Barcelona International Airport Terminal 1
Madrid Barajas Airport Terminal 1 (International)
Terminal 2 (European and domestic), except Czech Airlines and TAROM (Terminal 4)
Sheremetyevo International Airport (Moscow) Terminals D and E, except Vietnam Airlines (Domodedovo International Airport)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (Paris) Terminals 2E and 2F2 (International)
Terminals 2D and 2F1 (European)
2C, 2D, 2E, 2F and 2G (Air France)
Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (Rome) Terminal 1
Warsaw Frédéric Chopin Airport Terminal 1, except Aeroflot, Tarom, and Alitalia (Terminal 2)
North America
 |
| Chicago O'Hare International Airport Terminal 5 |
Airport Terminal
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Concourses T, A, B, and D (Domestic) Concourse E (International)
O'Hare International Airport (Chicago) Terminal 5, except Delta (Terminal 2)
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
Mexico City International Airport Terminal 2, except Air France and KLM (Terminal 1)
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport Terminal 1 (future co-location)
General Mariano Escobedo International Airport (Monterrey) Terminal B
John F. Kennedy International Airport (New York) Terminals 1 and 4 (International)
Terminals 2 and 3 (Domestic)
San Francisco International Airport Terminal A (International)
Terminals 1 B and C (Domestic)
Los Angeles International Airport Terminals 2, 6, and TBIT (International)
Terminal 5 (Domestic)
Seattle–Tacoma International Airport South Satellite Terminal
Toronto Pearson International Airport Terminal 3, except Alitalia (Terminal 1)
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.
Airline and Frequent Flyer Programme SkyTeam Elite Status SkyTeam Elite Plus Status
Aeroflot Aeroflot Bonus
Silver
Gold
Aeroméxico Club Premier
Gold
Platinum
Air Europa
Air France
Kenya Airways
KLM
TAROM Flying Blue
Silver
Gold*
Gold**
Platinum
Alitalia MilleMiglia
Silver Ulisse
Freccia Alata
Freccia Alata Plus
China Southern Airlines Sky Pearl Club
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Czech Airlines OK Plus
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
Silver Medallion
Gold Medallion
Platinum Medallion
Diamond Medallion
Korean Air SKYPASS
Morning Calm
Premium
Million Miler
Vietnam Airlines Golden Lotus Plus
Titanium
Silver
Platinum
*Gold: US / Mexico residents
**Gold: non-US / Mexico residents
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
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)
SkyTeam special livery
SkyTeam launched in 2009 a special livery celebrating its 10-year anniversary. The livery consisted of an all-metallic silver fuselage and a dark blue empennage with SkyTeam's logo on it. On the fuselage however, the alliance emblem is painted on both sides. As of November 2010, 13 aircraft wear the SkyTeam livery.
 |
| OK-JFL, an ATR 42 of Czech Airlines in special livery. (2009) |
Aircraft in SkyTeam livery
Airline Country Aircraft Registration Completed
Aeroflot Russia Airbus A330-300 VQ-BCQ October 2009
Aerolíneas Argentinas Argentina TBA Pending Future
Aeroméxico
Aeroméxico Connect* Mexico Boeing 767-200ER
Boeing 737-700
Embraer ERJ-145 XA-JBC
Pending
XA-CLI May 2009
Future
November 2010
Air Europa Spain Boeing 737-800 Pending Future
Air France France Boeing 777-300ER F-GZNE June 2009
Alitalia Italy Boeing 767-300ER EI-DBP May 2009
China Airlines Republic of China TBA Pending Future
China Eastern Airlines People's Republic of China TBA Pending Future
China Southern Airlines People's Republic of China Boeing 777-200ER B-2056 June 2009
Czech Airlines Czech Republic ATR 42-500 OK-JFL May 2009
Delta Air Lines USA Boeing 767-400ER
Boeing 757-200
Boeing 767-300ER N844MH
N717TW
N175DZ April 2009
September 2009
December 2010
Garuda Indonesia Indonesia TBA Pending Future
Kenya Airways Kenya Boeing 737-800 Pending Future
KLM Netherlands Boeing 777-300ER
Boeing 737-900 PH-BVD
PH-BXO August 2009
June 2010
Korean Air South Korea Boeing 777-200ER HL7733 October 2009
TAROM Romania Boeing 737-800 Pending Future
Vietnam Airlines Vietnam Airbus A330-200 VN-A371 June 2010
* Aeromexico's subsidiary now has a SkyTeam livery, making Aeromexico the only member of the alliance with a SkyTeam livery for its affiliate.
(source:wikipedia)
No comments:
Post a Comment