Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry,افتخار محمّد چودھری

Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry
18th Chief Justice of Pakistan
Incumbent
Assumed office  22 March 2009
Preceded by	Abdul Hameed Dogar
In office 30 June 2005 – 3 November 2007 (deposed Nov 3, 2007 - Mar 22, 2009)
Preceded by	Nazim Hussain Siddiqui
Succeeded by	Abdul Hameed Dogar (De facto)
Justice Supreme Court
In office February 4, 2000 – June 27, 2005
Nominated by	Mohammad Rafiq Tarar
Chief Justice Balochistan High Court
In office April 22, 1999 – February 3, 2000
Nominated by	Mohammad Rafiq Tarar
Preceded by	Amirul Mulk
Succeeded by	Javaid Iqbal
Justice Balochistan High Court
In office November 6, 1990 – April 22, 1999
Born	12 December 1948 (age 62) Quetta, Pakistan
Nationality	Pakistani
Religion	Islam

Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry (Urdu: افتخار محمّد چودھری) (born 12 December 1948 in Quetta) is the current Chief Justice of Pakistan. He was appointed as Chief Justice by Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf on May 7, 2005. He was suspended by President General Musharraf on March 9, 2007, when he refused to oblige Musharraf by refusing to resign. After having been elected as President for second term by the Parliament, Musharraf in November 2007 pre-empted an impending court decision against his re-election and suspended the constitution and declared a state of emergency. Justice Chaudhry convened a seven-member bench which issued an interim order against this action.

Early life

Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was born on 12 December 1948 (age 62) in Quetta, Balochistan Province, Pakistan. Chaudhry belongs to the Ghorewaha clan of Muslim Rajputs. His father migrated to and permanently settled in Quetta, where Chaudhry grew up.

Career in Law

Chaudhry has a Bachelors in Arts and Bachelors in Law (LLB) from Jamshoro-Sindh.He joined the bar in 1974. Later, he was enrolled as Advocate of the High Court in 1976 and as an Advocate of the Supreme Court in 1985. In 1989 he was appointed as Advocate General, Balochistan.He was elevated as Additional Judge, Balochistan High Court on 6 November 1990 until 21 April 1999. On April 22, 1999 he became Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court. Besides remaining as Judge of High Court, he discharged duties as Banking Judge, Judge Special Court for Speedy Trials, Judge Customs Appellate Courts as well as Company Judge. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry also remained President of High Court Bar Association, Quetta, and was elected twice as Member of the Bar Council. In 1992 he was appointed as Chairman of Balochistan Local Council Election Authority and thereafter for second term in 1998. He also worked as Chairman, Provincial Review Board for the province of Balochistan and was twice appointed as Chairman of the Pakistan Red Crescent Society, Balochistan.

On February 4, 2000 he was nominated Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan. On June 30, 2005 he became the Chief Justice of Pakistan. At present, Justice Iftikhar is also functioning as Chairman, Enrollment Committee of Pakistan Bar Council and as Chairman, Supreme Court Building Committee.

Oath taking under PCO 1999

After the proclamation of Provisional Constitutional Order, on January 26, 2000 an order Oath of Office (Judges) Order, 2000 was issued that required that judiciary take oath of office under PCO. Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and eighty nine (89) other judges in a total of one hundred and two (102) judges of superior judiciary, took oath on PCO while thirteen (13) refused to take oath on PCO.

Suspension and Reinstatement, 2007

Main articles: Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry (suspension) and Lawyers' Movement

On March 9, 2007, Chaudhry was suspended by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf also filed a Presidential reference against Chaudhry for misconduct.

It was the first time in the 60-year history of the Pakistani Supreme Court that a Chief Justice was suspended. The suspension was made on the grounds of complaints against Chief Justice Chaudhry for violating the norms of judicial propriety, corruption, seeking favours and misbehaving with senior lawyers. He was also accused of interfering in the working of the executive branch.

After his suspension, there was unrest in the country with regard to the validity of the allegations against Chaudhry, as well as doubt as to whether Musharraf technically had the power to suspend the Chief Justice under the circumstances.

On May 5, 2007, Chaudhry with his counsel and politician friend Atizaz Ahsan, who is also the party member of the PPP, traveled from Islamabad to Lahore to address the Lahore High Court Bar Association. Demonstrations of support along the route slowed his motorcade to the point that it took him 25 hours to reach the dinner the association was holding in his honor.

On July 20, 2007, Chaudhry was reinstated to his position as Chief Justice in a ruling by the thirteen-member bench of Pakistani Supreme Court headed by Justice Khalil ur Rehman Ramday. He was represented by Aitzaz Ahsan, Shahid Saeed, Gohar Khan and Nadeem Ahmed [PLD 2007 SC 578] against 16 senior lawyers representing the Federation. The ruling combined 25 constitutional petitions filed by various parties, but referred most of the issues raised by the 24 petitions not filed by Chaudhry himself to lower courts for extended adjudication. All thirteen of the sitting justices agreed that Musharraf's action had been illegal, and ten of the thirteen ordered Chaudhry was to be reinstated and that he "shall be deemed to be holding the said office and shall always be deemed to have been so holding the same."

2007 State of Emergency

2007 Pakistani state of emergency

On Saturday, Nov 3, 2007, General Pervez Musharraf, who was the President and Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan at the time, declared a state of emergency and suspended the nation's constitution and parliament at the same time. The declaration accused the judges of violating article 209 of the Constitution of 1973.

On 15 November Geo News reported that Chaudhry had ordered the Islamabad Inspector General of Police to take action against his and his family’s house arrest and their possible relocation to Quetta. According to the channel, Chaudhry held the interior secretary, the commissioner, the deputy commissioner and the assistant commissioner responsible for his house arrest. He said he was still the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the official residence was his by right.

Reinstatement, 2008-09

Just after general elections in February, on March 24, 2008, on his first day of premiership the Pakistani PM Yousaf Raza Gillani ordered Chaudhry's release from house arrest.

In October 2008, Chaudhry visited the Supreme Court building.

The Lawyers' Movement announced a "long march" for the restoration of the judges, especially Chief Justice Iftikhar from 12 to 16 March 2009. The government of Pakistan refused to reinstate the judges and declared section 144 in effect in three of the four provinces of Pakistan thereby forbidding any form of gatherings of the "long march". Arrangements were made to block all roads and other means of transport to prevent the lawyers from reaching the federal capital, Islamabad. Workers of the main political parties in opposition and the lawyers movement as well as other known persons from the civil society were arrested. Despite these efforts, the movement continued and was able to break through the blockade in Lahore en route to Islamabad in the night between 15 and 16 March 2009. A few hours later, on the morning of March 16, 2009, the prime minister of Pakistan restored Chaudhary Iftikahar as chief justice of Pakistan through an executive order. after which the opposition agreed to stop the "long march".

Important Considered Rulings

Pre 2007-08 Judgements

Pakistan Steel Mills Privatization

Main article: Pakistan Steel Mills

In 2007, the Supreme court ruled against the government, saying that the selling of Pakistan Steel Mills to a group including Arif Habib, former client and friend of PM Shaukat Aziz, was done in "indecent haste".

Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry administers the oath of office to President Pervez Musharraf, upon the beginning of Musharraf's second term.

Other

Some very important cases were heard in the supreme court in the 2007. Decisions have already been taken in some:

The case whether Nawaz Sharif (twice the former PM of Pakistan) could come back to Pakistan. Decision: Sharif can come back.

Controversies

Dismissal of petition challenging Legal Framework Order (LFO) 2002

Just prior to the holding of the October 2002 General Elections a five member bench the Supreme Court of Pakistan that Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was a member of dismissed a petition which challenged the promulgation of the Legal Framework Order(LFO)2002 by Chief Executive and President General Pervez Musharraf. Under the LFO General Musharraf announced amendments to the constitution which restored executive powers to the President, including the right to dismiss the National Assembly, appoint Governors and Service Chiefs and created a National Security Council (NSC).

Judgement on 17th Amendment and President's Uniform Case 2005

On April 13, 2005, in the "Judgment on 17th Amendment and President's Uniform Case", Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was one of 5 Supreme Court judges who dismissed all petitions challenging President Musharraf's consistitutional amendments. In a wide ranging judgement they declared that the Legal Framework Order (LFO) instituted by General Musharraf after his suspension of the constitution, the 17th amendment which gave this constitutional backing, and the two offices bill which allowed Musharraf to retain his military uniform whilst being President were all legal because the Parliament had approved the amendments.

Son Admission In FIA

Ansar Abbasi brought forth allegations against Chief Justice Iftikhar Choudhray for gross misconduct in 2002, accusing him for admitting his Son Dr. Arsalan to FIA undermining all merits.

Supreme Court justices

On 30 July 2009, a 14 member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled that all the judges who had taken an oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO), were removed from office and are now facing the Supreme Judicial Council. Two days later an ordinance signed by President Asif Ali Zardari officially removed all PCO judges from office.

Awards and honors

Elena Kagan, then the Dean of Harvard Law School, delivering the Medal of Freedom to Chief Justice Chaudhry.

In the wake of the imposition of emergency rule in Pakistan, on November 14, 2007, the Harvard Law School decided to award its highest honour, the Medal of Freedom, to Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, following the military crackdown the previous week. He becomes the first Pakistani to be presented with such honour.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry formally received the Harvard Law School Medal of Freedom during his visit to the United States in November, 2008.

The National Law Journal picked Chaudhry as the lawyer of the year for 2007.

The Association of the Bar of the City of New York granted Chaudhry an honorary membership in the association on Nov. 17, 2008, recognizing him as a "symbol of the movement for judicial and lawyer independence in Pakistan."

(source:wikipedia)

Air Arabia,العربية للطيران

Air Arabia

IATA G9 ICAO ABY Callsign ARABIA
Founded	3 February 2003
Commenced operations	28 October 2003
Bases	Sharjah International Airport
Alliance	Arab Air Carriers Organization
Subsidiaries	Air Arabia Egypt Air Arabia Jordan Air Arabia Maroc
Fleet size	22
Destinations	57
Headquarters	Sharjah, U.A.E.
Key people	Adel Ali (CEO)
Website	airarabia.com

Air Arabia is a low-cost airline with its head office in the Sharjah Freight Center, near Sharjah International Airport, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The airline is the first and largest low cost airline in the Middle East, Air Arabia operates scheduled services to 46 destinations in the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia and Europe to 22 countries from Sharjah, 11 destinations in 10 countries from Casablanca and 5 destinations in 5 countries from Alexandria.

Its main base is Sharjah International Airport where it functions as a low cost conduit base, similar to low cost airport bases in Europe such as Rome Ciampino, London Stansted and Brussels South. Air Arabia separates it from many low cost carriers in that it offers connections to many flights at its base in Sharjah. It also offers some checked luggage at no cost. Air Arabia also has focus cities in Alexandria and Casablanca. Air Arabia is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.

History

Air Arabia (العربية للطيران) was established on 3 February 2003 by an Amiri decree issued by Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah and member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates, becoming the first low-fare airline in the region. The airline started operations on 28 October 2003 with the first flight from Sharjah, UAE to Bahrain International Airport. The airline was profitable from the first year of being in business. It issued a successful initial public offering for 55% of its stock early in 2007.

Subsidiaries

An Air Arabia Airbus A320-200 (2008)

Air Arabia has created subsidiaries for some international bases. The following countries have had or still do have subsidiary airlines based there:

Egypt

Air Arabia Egypt (2010–present) - On 9 September 2009, Air Arabia announced Air Arabia Egypt as a joint venture with Egyptian travel and tourism company Travco Group to be based in Alexandria, Egypt. The airline received its operating license on 22 May 2010, with commercial flights beginning 1 June 2010.

Jordan

Air Arabia Jordan (TBA) - On 7 June 2010, Air Arabia announced that they had signed a deal with Tantash Group to form Air Arabia Jordan which will be based in Amman, Jordan. The proposed airline will operate flights from Queen Alia International Airport to Europe, Middle East and North Africa.

[

Morocco

Air Arabia Maroc (2009–present) - Air Arabia, in a joint venture with Moroccan investors established Air Arabia Maroc and set up a secondary base in Morocco's largest city, Casablanca; it began operations on 6 May 2009, allowing them to expand into Europe and Africa.

Nepal

Fly Yeti (2007–2008) - In 2007, Air Arabia opened a base in Nepal's capital Kathmandu to serve Asia and the Middle East, with the signing of a joint venture agreement with Yeti Airlines, establishing a low-cost carrier, called Fly Yeti that provided affordable and convenient service to a broad range of international destinations. Due to the uncertain political and economic situation prevailing in Nepal, FlyYeti operations were suspended since early 2008.

Destinations

Air Arabia destinations

Fleet

As of January 2011, the Air Arabia fleet consists of 22 Airbus A320-200 aircraft with an average age of 3.2 years, which are all equipped with 162 passenger seats in an all-economy class cabin layout.The airline has ordered a total of 40 aircraft of this type.

Incidents and accidents

On 6 May 2006, an Armenian International Airways aircraft that was leased to Air Arabia at that time was destroyed in a hangar fire at Brussels Airport, along with four other airliners parked there.

On 25 April 2010, Air Arabia Flight 521 made an emergency landing at Karachi Airport due to a fire in the cargo hold and a subsequent formation of smoke. The plane landed safely at 4:10pm local time, with no injuries amongst the crew and 155 passengers onboard.

(source:wikipedia)

Flydubai

Flydubai

IATA FZ ICAO FDB Callsign SKYDUBAI
Founded	19 March 2008
Commenced operations	1 June 2009
Bases	Dubai International Airport
Fleet size	13
Destinations	32
Company slogan	It's that easy
Headquarters	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Key people	Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (Chairman) Ghaith Al Ghaith (CEO) Kenneth Gile (COO)
Website	www.flydubai.com

Flydubai (styled as flydubai) is a low-cost airline of the United Arab Emirates, operating out of Dubai International Airport.

History

The airline was founded on 19 March 2008 by Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the chairman of Emirates Airline. Although not being a part of The Emirates Group, flydubai is supported by Emirates during the initial establishing phase. On 14 July of the same year, Flydubai signed a firm order with American aircraft manufacturer Boeing at the Farnborough Air Show over 50 Boeing 737-800s (with a combined value of 4 billion USD), with the option to change the order to the longer range Boeing 737-900ER, according to the airline's demand. Also, a leasing agreement was signed with Babcock & Brown for four more 737-800s, due to be delivered in 2009. The first one of these aircraft was delivered on 17 May 2009. Scheduled flights commenced on 1 June, with a services to Beirut, Lebanon and Amman, Jordan. Since then, the route network has been significantly expanded.

Destinations

 Flydubai destinations

Fleet

As of December 2010, the Flydubai fleet consists of 13 Boeing 737-800 aircraft with an average age of 0.9 years, some of which are leased. They are all equipped with 189 passenger seats in a high-density all-economy class cabin layout.

flydubai fleet

Aircraft Total Orders Passengers Notes

Boeing 737-800 13 37 189 4 are equipped with the new Boeing Sky Interior.

In November 2010, Flydubai agreed a sale and leaseback deal with Avolon on four Boeing 737-800s

(source:wikipedia)

SkyTeam

SkyTeam

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

Aerolíneas Argentinas will join SkyTeam as a full member in early 2012.

Garuda Indonesia is set to join SkyTeam in 2012

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

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 2

Mexico City International Airport Terminal 2

Warsaw Frédéric 

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)