SkyTeam is an airline alliance with its centralised management team, SkyTeam Central, based at
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. SkyTeam was the last of the three major airline alliances
to be formed, the first two being Star Alliance and Oneworld. However, in terms of the number
of passengers and the number of members, SkyTeam has grown and is now the second largest alliance
in the world, second only to Star Alliance and ahead of Oneworld. As of March 2014, SkyTeam
consists of 20 carriers from five continents, and operates with the slogan "Caring more
about you". It also operates a cargo alliance named SkyTeam Cargo, which partners ten carriers
—all of them SkyTeam members— following the entrance of China Airlines Cargo in October 2012 (2012-10).
In 2004, the alliance had its biggest expansion when Continental Airlines, KLM, and Northwest
Airlines simultaneously joined as full members. In 2010, the alliance celebrated its 10th
anniversary with the introduction of a special livery, the joining or upgrading status of
four airlines, followed by the announcements of Aerolíneas Argentinas, China Airlines,
and Garuda Indonesia to become full members. In January 2011 (2011-01), the alliance
announced the incorporation of both Saudi Arabian Airlines and Middle East Airlines
during 2012; these events effectively took place in May and June 2012 (2012-06), respectively,
whereas Aerolíneas Argentinas and Xiamen Airlines memberships were activated in August
and November the same year, respectively. Garuda Indonesia entered the alliance in March 2014 (2014-03).
As of March 2014, SkyTeam flies to more than 1,000 destinations in 178 countries, and operates
some 15,700 daily flights with a combined fleet of over 4,400 aircraft, including associate
carriers. The alliance and its members have a total workforce of 459,781; furthermore,
it has 564 lounges worldwide to serve 588 million annual passengers.
Membership history Formations and early years
On 22 June 2000, representatives of Aeroméxico, Air France, Delta Air Lines, and Korean Air
held a meeting in New York to announce the founding of a third airline alliance. These
became the four founding carriers of SkyTeam. Upon its formation, SkyTeam would offer its
customers a total of 6,402 daily flights to 451 destinations in 98 countries. In September 2000 (2000-09),
the alliance established a cargo alliance, SkyTeam Cargo. The group's inaugural members
were Aeromexpress, Air France Cargo, Delta Air Logistics, and Korean Air Cargo. The following
month, the newly established airline alliance announced its intentions to incorporate CSA
Czech Airlines as the 5th member in April the following year.
The alliance saw the joining of CSA Czech Airlines on 25 March 2001; Alitalia entered
SkyTeam on 27 July the same year, with its membership scheduled to become effective on
1 November that year. On 30 September 2001, 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 On 24 May 2004, Aeroflot, the flag carrier
and principal airline of Russia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SkyTeam as
it intended to become a full member. The event took place in Kremlin following the airline's
application earlier in the year for membership. SkyTeam expressed that Aeroflot has not met
the consortium's standards, but that the airline's large hub networks made it ideal for the alliance,
and made up for its deficiencies. 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, the chairman of China Southern Airlines, 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 surpassed Oneworld to become the second largest airline
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, Malév Hungarian Airlines opted to join the Oneworld airline
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, Panama-based Copa Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Romania's
TAROM. Every associate adopted a frequent-flyer program of a full member: Copa Airlines already
used Continental's OnePass; Kenya Airways and Air Europa used Air France–KLM's Flying
Blue. Following a 23-month joining process since
May 2004 (2004-05), Aeroflot joined on 14 April 2006. It was the first Russian airline
to be associated with any airline alliance. Aeroflot has increased its operational standards,
passing International Air Transport Association's Operational Safety Audit. 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
a sudden end to its candidacy. 2007 expansion
On 4 September 2007, Air Europa, Copa Airlines, and Kenya Airways became members of SkyTeam's
Associate program, which was launched to serve airlines in strategic regions which intended
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 the alliance.
Aeroméxico's sister company Aerolitoral became Aeroméxico Connect.
2008–2009: Departure of airlines and new initiatives
In June 2008 (2008-06), following an agreement between Continental Airlines and United Airlines,
the first of these carriers and Copa Airlines announced their intentions to move to the
Star Alliance after Continental's final flight with SkyTeam on 24 October 2009. That day,
as announced, Continental Airlines and Copa Airlines simultaneously left SkyTeam. Continental
Airlines joined Star Alliance three days later; at the time, it was rumored that the switch
was Continental Airlines' initial move in a United-Continental merger.
In April 2009 (2009-04), the alliance signed a preliminary agreement with Vietnam Airlines
for the airline to become a full member in 2010. Also in 2009, Alitalia-Linee Aeree Italiane
re-launched operations as the new Alitalia, and the alliance announced initiatives towards
a centralized management based in Amsterdam. The consortium also named a new managing director,
Marie-Joseph Malé, outlined a timeline for the opening of its co-located facilities at
London Heathrow Airport, and unveiled a new special livery.
Tenth 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 same year, the airline was to be the first Chinese
carrier to join a global air cargo alliance. On 16 April China Eastern Airlines announced
its intention to join SkyTeam, with the official joining ceremony initially expected to occur
by mid-2011. The announcement came shortly after the airline's merger 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 became the first SkyTeam
carrier from Southeast Asia, where Star Alliance has a strong presence through Singapore Airlines
and Thai Airways International. With an extra 20 unique destinations added to SkyTeam's
route map, Vietnam Airlines helped to 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 its flights, and nearly
doubled its destinations. On the same day, SkyTeam announced that it had renewed its
membership program, thereby upgrading Air Europa, Kenya Airways, and TAROM statuses
from associate to full members. During the ceremony, the Board outlined its plans to
recruit members from Latin America, South America, and India. Three days later, TAROM
officially became the 13th SkyTeam member. As a part of the celebration, SkyTeam offered
reductions of round-the-world fares and other promotions. Following the 10th anniversary,
SkyTeam intended to enhance customers' travel experience and deepen cooperation among its
members to supplement the expansion into regions that are yet to have SkyTeam members.
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 antitrust immunity from U.S.
regulators. SkyTeam received its second application for
full membership within a five-month time-span. China Airlines, Taiwan's flag carrier and
largest airline, announced in mid-September that it had formally started the joining process.
Upon joining, the airline's route network supplemented 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 Taiwan, but throughout
the Asia-Pacific region. The following month, Aerolíneas Argentinas signed an agreement
to officially start the process of becoming the first South American SkyTeam member. The
airline was set to join in 2012. On 1 November, Shanghai Airlines exited from
Star Alliance to join SkyTeam in the future 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 one alliance in the region. Garuda
Indonesia formally started its joining process on 23 November, and was 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
International and Singapore Airlines. 2011–onwards: Major expansion
On 10 January 2011, SkyTeam announced that Saudi Arabian Airlines signed an agreement
to join the alliance in 2012. On 19 January the same year, SkyTeam announced that Middle
East Airlines will also join the alliance, signing the agreement on 28 February. Member
airlines Delta and Air France-KLM appointed Goldman Sachs in late February 2011 (2011-02)
to advise them on a potential bid for Sir Richard Branson's 51% stake in Virgin Atlantic,
which could lead to the airline joining SkyTeam and would sharply increase the alliance's
footprint in London. Rivals Star Alliance and Etihad Airlines are also investigating
competing options with regard to Virgin Atlantic. China Eastern Airlines joined the alliance
on 21 June 2011, along with its subsidiary, Shanghai Airlines, to become the overall 14th
member. Later in 2011, on 28 September, China Airlines joined the alliance. In November
the same year, Xiamen Airlines committed to be incorporated as a full member by the end
of 2012, with their entry supported by China Southern Airlines.
On 29 May 2012, Saudi Arabian Airlines became both the first carrier in joining the alliance
in 2012 and the first one based in the Middle East, which brought the total members to 16.
The same day of its incorporation, Saudi Arabian Airlines announced its renaming to Saudia.
Middle East Airlines became the 17th member of the alliance a month later, following its
incorporation on 28 June 2012. On 29 August 2012, Aerolíneas Argentinas became the first
South American and the second Latin American airline in joining the alliance, bringing
the number of members to 18. Following its incorporation on 21 November 2012, Xiamen
Airlines became the fourth member in Mainland China, with the overall number of members
in the alliance rising to 19. In late June 2013 (2013-06), the Russian newspaper Kommersant published
an article that mentions that Aeroflot was considering leaving the alliance over disagreements
with Delta on the pricing on some routes to North America. The report also mentioned that
the Russian carrier was considering joining Star Alliance. In order to assess the benefits
of the SkyTeam membership, a study was carried out in July; following it, the Aeroflot board
reaffirmed its position within the alliance in September 2013 (2013-09).
Garuda Indonesia became the 20th member of the alliance on 5 March 2014. Initially expected
to gain SkyTeam membership in 2012, Garuda's joining process took 40 months to be completed.
Member airlines Full members and their member & non-member
affiliates
Former members and member affiliates Former member airlines
Former affiliate members Former associate members
Possible future members SkyTeam Cargo
SkyTeam Cargo is a cargo division of SkyTeam. As of June 2013, the cargo alliance was formed
by eleven members from the passenger alliance: Aeroflot Cargo, Aeroméxico Cargo, Air France
Cargo, Alitalia Cargo, China Airlines Cargo, China Cargo Airlines, China Southern Cargo,
Czech Airlines Cargo, Delta Cargo, KLM Cargo and Korean Air Cargo. Aerolíneas Argentinas
Cargo, the cargo division of Aerolíneas Argentinas, joined the alliance in November 2013 (2013-11).
Benefits and services SkyTeam hubs
Co-locations 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 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
Qualifying tiers by airline SkyTeam special livery
SkyTeam launched in 2009 a special livery celebrating its 10th anniversary, with Delta
Air Lines being the first airline to paint one of its aircraft with these colours. 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 March 2014, the SkyTeam livery is worn by 52 aircraft.
See also Oneworld
Star Alliance Notes
References
External links Official SkyTeam website
SkyTeam Cargo