CSA Czech Airlines Joins Delta SkyMiles Program

Partnership Offers Mileage-Earning Opportunities to Central and Eastern Europe

Delta Air Lines has announced that CSA Czech Airlines, the national carrier of the Czech Republic, became a SkyMiles partner effective Dec. 1, 2000. The agreement enabled SkyMiles members to earn miles on all CSA -coded flights and redeem miles on all CSA -operated flights.

CSA has been invited to join the SkyTeam global alliance, which includes Aeromexico, Air France, Delta and Korean Air on April 1, 2001. Delta and CSA will begin codeshare flights March 25, 2001.

"This is this first step in a strategic partnership that will provide SkyMiles members with excellent mileage earning and reward opportunities for travel to Central and Eastern Europe," said Christine Pierce, Delta’s director of relationship marketing.

SkyMiles members traveling on CSA in paid Economy Class will earn a minimum of 500 miles or the actual miles flown, whichever is greater. SkyMiles members flying on CSA in paid Business Class will earn 125 percent of miles flown.

Beginning April 1, 2001, elite members of the CSA frequent flyer program, OK Plus, and elite members of Aeromexico, Air France, Delta and Korean Air, will qualify for enhanced reciprocal SkyTeam benefits. Top-tier flyers on each of the alliance airlines automatically attain SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus status.

CSA serves more than 62 destinations in Europe, North Africa, North America and the Middle East. CSA operates daily, nonstop service from New York to Prague. Destination cities from the hub in Prague include Budapest, Hungary; Vienna, Austria; Warsaw, Poland; Zagreb, Croatia; Larnaca, Cyprus; Brno and Ostrava, Czech Republic; Riga, Latvia; Bratislava and Kosice, Slovakia; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

CSA, founded in 1923, is the largest scheduled airline in the Czech Republic. The carrier has a modern fleet of 28 aircraft with an average aircraft age of five years.

The Delta SkyMiles program offers many other mileage-building opportunities, including the Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express, MCI WorldCom services, hotels, car purchases, car rentals, cruise lines, restaurants, mortgages with North American Mortgage Company and GMAC Real Estate/Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate.