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The Governing Board of SkyTeam today welcomed KLM’s decision to apply
for SkyTeam membership, in the scope of a project announced by Air France
and KLM to create a new, leading European airline group, through a share
exchange between both airlines.
“With the addition of KLM, customers will enjoy unparalleled access to the
world’s most favorite and heavily traveled routes” said Jean-Cyril
Spinetta, Chairman and CEO of Air France, on behalf of the Governing Board. “KLM’s
Schiphol will be an integral part of SkyTeam’s extensive hub strategy, adding
a new powerful European hub to a network that already includes Atlanta, Mexico City, Milan, Paris-CDG2, Prague, Rome and Seoul. This will allow us to
offer our customers a wider range of convenient connections and a larger
choice of destinations."
KLM’s membership of SkyTeam paves the way for Continental Airlines and
Northwest to join the global alliance. With KLM, Continental and Northwest as
new members, SkyTeam will be one of the leading global alliances, with an
overall ASM (available seat mile) share of 21 percent.
The SkyTeam alliance network will provide passengers with the opportunity to
receive benefits from their preferred airline while traveling on any of the
SkyTeam carriers. The enlarged alliance will offer a broad network for customers to connect via a multi-hub system to hundreds of cities around the
world, will increase ease of ticketing, check-in and baggage handling, will
allow customers to receive frequent flyer benefits on all carriers, and will make
travel on any of the airlines a seamless experience.
No official date has been set for the three carriers to officially join
SkyTeam. However the alliance anticipates customers to start receiving benefits within
the next six to nine months. |
