Schiphol World Trade Center, where SkyTeam has its head office

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.^[1][2][3] 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 the second-largest airline alliance in the world (in terms of passenger number and members), behind Star Alliance and ahead of Oneworld.^{[citation needed]} The alliance currently consists of sixteen carriers from four continents, with the slogan "Caring more about you". SkyTeam also operates a cargo alliance called SkyTeam Cargo. As of February 2012^[update], the alliance and its members have a total workforce of 399,469.^[4]

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 Airlines, Garuda Indonesia to become full members. In January 2011, SkyTeam announced that Saudi Arabian Airlines and Middle East Airlines will also join SkyTeam in 2012.

As of February 2012^[update], SkyTeam flies to 926 airports in 173 countries.^[4] It operates over 14,000 daily flights with a combined fleet of 3,542 aircraft (including associate carriers).^[4] Furthermore, the alliance has 490 lounges worldwide to serve its 487 million annual passengers.^[4] Besides its passenger-carrying business, SkyTeam also runs a separate cargo alliance—SkyTeam Cargo—which partners nine carriers who are all SkyTeam members.

Membership history[link]

Formations and early years[link]

A Korean Air Boeing 777-200ER in SkyTeam special 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.^[5] 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.^[5] 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.^[5]

The year 2001 saw the joining of CSA Czech Airlines on 25 March^[5] and Alitalia on 27 July.^[6] On 30 September, the alliance received KLM's application for membership,^[7] following the airline's plans to create a leading airline group with Air France.^[7] 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.^[8]

Biggest expansion[link]

An Alitalia Boeing 767-300ER in SkyTeam special livery, on approach to Fiumicino Airport in 2009.

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.^[9][10] SkyTeam says that Aeroflot has not met the consortium's standards, but the airline's large hub networks makes it ideal for the alliance.^[11]

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.^[12] 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.^[13][14] 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.^[13]

2005–2006[link]

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).^[15] 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[16][17] 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.^[18]

2007 expansion[link]

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.^[19][20] 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[link]

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 centralized management, based in Amsterdam.^[21] The consortium also named a new Managing Director, Marie-Joseph Malé.^[22] The alliance also outlined a timeline for the opening of its co-located facilities at London Heathrow Airport. A new special livery was also unveiled.^[21] On 24 October, Continental Airlines and Copa Airlines simultaneously left SkyTeam,^[23] after which Continental Airlines would join Star Alliance on 27 October.^[24] At the time, it was rumoured that the switch was Continental's initial move in a United-Continental merger.^[25]

10th anniversary[link]

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.^[26] 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.^[27] The announcement came 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.^[28] 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.^[28]

On 22 June, the CEOs and Chairmen of the 13 member airlines gathered in New York to celebrate the alliance's 10th anniversary.^[29] 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.^[30] 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,^[31] 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.^[30] Three days later, TAROM officially became a member of SkyTeam.^[32] As part of the celebration, SkyTeam offered reductions of round-the-world fares^[33] 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.^[34]

During the year, Delta Air Lines offered  billion to Japan Airlines after the Asian airline filed for bankruptcy due to  billion debt,^[36] at the same time lobbying Oneworld's largest member in Asia to switch to SkyTeam.^[37] 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.^[38]

Membership of China Airlines was activated on 28 September 2011.

On 14 September, SkyTeam received its second application for full membership within a 5-month timespan. China Airlines, the flag carrier and largest carrier of Taiwan, announced that it has formally started the joining process.^[39] 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 Taiwan, 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.^[40][41][42]

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 1 alliance in the region.^[43] Garuda Indonesia, the flag carrier of Indonesia, formally started its joining process on 23 November, and is scheduled to be integrated by 2012.^[44] 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.

2011–onwards: Major expansion[link]

On 10 January, SkyTeam announced that Saudi Arabian Airlines signed an agreement to join the alliance in 2012. The airline will be SkyTeam’s first member from the Middle East, adding 35 new destinations to the alliance network. These new destinations are on the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian subcontinent and Northern Africa. SkyTeam will compete with the Oneworld alliance and their member Royal Jordanian Airlines in the Middle East. On 19 January, SkyTeam announced that Middle East Airlines will join the alliance in 2012. Middle East Airlines flies to 30 destinations, primarily in the Middle East and West Africa, thereby further increasing the presence of SkyTeam in this region. Member airlines Delta and Air France-KLM appointed Goldman Sachs in late February, 2011 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. Rival alliance Star Alliance and Etihad Airlines are also investigating competing options with regard to Virgin Atlantic.^[45]

China Eastern Airlines joined the alliance on 21 June 2011, along with its subsidiary Shanghai Airlines, becoming the overall 14th member.^[46] Later in 2011, on 28 September, China Airlines joined the alliance, and later that year, on 28 September, China Airlines also became a member. On 29 May 2012, Saudia became both the first carrier in joining the alliance in 2012 and the first one based in the Middle East in doing so, raising the number of members in the alliance to 16.^[47][48][49]

Member airlines[link]

Full members and their member & non-member affiliates[link]

Aeroméxico, Air France, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air are the four founding members of the alliance.

Member airline	Joined	Member affiliates	Non-member affiliates
Aeroflot	2006	Donavia	Orenair
			Rossiya
			SAT Airlines
			Vladivostok Avia
Aeroméxico[nb 1]	2000	Aeroméxico Connect	N/A
Air Europa	2007	N/A	N/A
Air France[nb 2][nb 3]	2000	Brit Air	transavia.com France
		CityJet
		Régional
Alitalia	2009	Alitalia CityLiner	Air One
China Airlines	2011	Mandarin Airlines[nb 4]	N/A
China Eastern Airlines	2011	Shanghai Airlines	China United Airlines
China Southern Airlines	2007	N/A	Chongqing Airlines
			Xiamen Airlines[nb 5]
Czech Airlines	2001	N/A	N/A
Delta Air Lines[nb 6]	2000	Delta Connection	N/A
		Delta Shuttle
Kenya Airways	2007	N/A	N/A
KLM[nb 7]	2004	KLM Cityhopper	transavia.com
Korean Air[nb 8]	2000	N/A	Jin Air
Saudia	2012	N/A	N/A
TAROM	2010	N/A	N/A
Vietnam Airlines	2010	N/A	Jetstar Pacific
			Vietnam Air Service Company

Former members and their member affiliates[link]

Former member airlines[link]

Former member airline	Joined	Exited	Member affiliates
Alitalia-Linee Aeree Italiane[nb 9]	2001	2009	Alitalia Express
			Volareweb.com
Continental Airlines[nb 10]	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[nb 11]	2004	2009	Northwest Airlink

Former member affiliates[link]

Former member affiliate	Country	Joined	Exited	Member affiliate of
Aerolitoral[nb 12]	Mexico	2000	2007	Aeroméxico
Aeroméxico Travel[nb 13]	Mexico	2008	2011	Aeroméxico
Delta Express[nb 14]	United States	2000	2003	Delta Air Lines
Song Airlines[nb 15]	United States	2003	2006	Delta Air Lines

Former associate members[link]

Former associate member	Country	Joined	Exited	Member affiliates
Copa Airlines[nb 16]	Panama	2007	2009	AeroRepública

Future members[link]

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

Garuda Indonesia has delayed SkyTeam join date to Q1 2013.

Future member airline	Joining	Member affiliates	Non-member affiliates
Aerolíneas Argentinas[53][54][55][56]	Late August 2012[57]	Austral Líneas Aéreas[56]	N/A
Garuda Indonesia[44][58][59]	Q1 2013[60]	N/A	Citilink
Middle East Airlines[61][62][63]	June 2012[57]	N/A	N/A
Xiamen Airlines[51][52]	November 2012[57]	N/A	N/A

Possible future members[link]

Airline	Member affiliates	Non-member affiliates
Air Algérie[64]	N/A	N/A
Air India[65]	Air India Regional[citation needed]	Air India Express[citation needed]
Air Madagascar[66]	N/A	N/A
Air Nigeria[67]	N/A	N/A
Etihad Airways[68]	N/A	N/A
Gol Transportes Aéreos[69]	N/A	WebJet Linhas Aéreas
Jet Airways[69]	N/A	JetLite
Uzbekistan Airways[70]	N/A	N/A
Virgin Atlantic Airways[71]	N/A	N/A
Virgin Australia[72]	N/A	Virgin Samoa[citation needed]

SkyTeam Cargo[link]

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 nine members from the passenger alliance – Aeroflot Cargo, Air France Cargo, Alitalia Cargo, China Southern Cargo, CSA Cargo, Delta Air Logistics, KLM Cargo and Korean Air Cargo.

Benefits and services[link]

SkyTeam hubs[link]

Member airlines	Hub airports	Focus city airports
Aeroflot	Sheremetyevo International Airport	Pulkovo Airport
Aeroméxico	Mexico City International Airport	General Mariano Escobedo International Airport
		Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport
Air Europa	Madrid Barajas Airport	Barcelona El Prat Airport
		Tenerife South Airport
Air France	Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport	Marseille Provence Airport
	Paris-Orly Airport	Nice Côte d'Azur Airport
	Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport	Toulouse-Blagnac Airport
Alitalia	Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport	Catania-Fontanarossa Airport
		Linate Airport
		Malpensa Airport
		Naples Airport
		Turin Caselle Airport
		Venice Marco Polo Airport
China Airlines	Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport	Hong Kong International Airport
	Kaohsiung International Airport	Suvarnabhumi Airport
China Eastern Airlines	Kunming Wujiaba International Airport	Beijing Capital International Airport
		Hefei Luogang International Airport
	Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport	Nanjing Lukou International Airport
		Ningbo Lishe International Airport
	Shanghai Pudong International Airport	Shijiazhuang Daguocun International Airport
		Taiyuan Wusu Airport
	Xi'an Xianyang International Airport	Wuhan Tianhe International Airport
		Wuxi Shuofang Airport
China Southern Airlines	Beijing Capital International Airport	Changchun Longjia International Airport
		Changsha Huanghua International Airport
	Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport	Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport
		Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
	Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport	Jieyang Chaoshan Airport
		Shenyang Taoxian International Airport
	Ürümqi Diwopu International Airport	Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport
		Wuhan Tianhe International Airport
		Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport
Czech Airlines	Prague Ruzyně Airport	Karlovy Vary Airport
Delta Air Lines	Amsterdam Airport Schiphol	N/A
	Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
	Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
	Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
	John F. Kennedy International Airport
	LaGuardia Airport [begins 11 July 2012][73][not in citation given]
	Memphis International Airport
	Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
	Narita International Airport
	Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport
	Salt Lake City International Airport
Kenya Airways	Jomo Kenyatta International Airport	Moi International Airport
KLM	Amsterdam Airport Schiphol	N/A
Korean Air	Incheon International Airport	Gimhae International Airport
	Gimpo International Airport	Jeju International Airport
Saudia	Abha Regional Airport	N/A
	King Abdulaziz International Airport
	King Fahd International Airport
	King Khalid International Airport
	Prince Mohammad Airport
TAROM	Henri Coandă International Airport	N/A
Vietnam Airlines	Noi Bai International Airport	Hong Kong International Airport
	Tan Son Nhat International Airport
	Da Nang International Airport	Narita International Airport
	Long Thanh International Airport (future)

Co-locations[link]

Asia[link]

Serves	Airport	IATA	Terminal	Exceptions
Beijing	Beijing Capital International Airport	PEK	Terminal 2[74]	China Airlines in Terminal 3
Seoul	Incheon International Airport	ICN	Concourse A (East side of the Main terminal)	Korean Air
Tokyo	Narita International Airport	NRT	Terminal 1 North Wing	China Airlines in Terminal 2 China Eastern Airlines in Terminal 2 China Southern Airlines in Terminal 2

Europe[link]

City	Airport	IATA	Terminal	Exceptions
London	London Heathrow Airport	LHR	Terminal 4	Vietnam Airlines at London Gatwick
Manchester	Manchester Airport	MAN	Terminal 3	Delta in Terminal 2
Frankfurt	Frankfurt Airport	FRA	Terminal 2
Paris	Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport	CDG	Terminals 2E and 2F2 (International) Terminals 2D and 2F1 (European) 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F and 2G (Air France)
Moscow	Sheremetyevo International Airport	SVO	Terminals D and E	Vietnam Airlines at Domodedovo Airport
Barcelona	Barcelona Airport	BCN	Terminal 1
Madrid	Madrid-Barajas Airport	MAD	Terminal 1 (International) Terminal 2 (European and domestic)	Czech Airlines in Terminal 4 TAROM in Terminal 4
Rome	Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport	FCO	Terminals 1 and 3	Delta in Terminal 5
Bucharest	Henri Coandă International Airport	OTP	Terminal 1

North America[link]

City	Airport	IATA	Terminal	Exceptions
Toronto	Toronto Pearson International Airport	YYZ	Terminal 3
Atlanta	Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport	ATL	Concourses T, A, B, C, D (Domestic) Concourses E & F (International)
Boston	Logan International Airport	BOS	Terminal A
Chicago	O'Hare International Airport	ORD	Terminal 5 (International) Terminal 2 (Domestic)
Cincinnati	Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport	CVG	Terminal 3
Dallas Fort Worth	Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport	DFW	Terminal D (KLM & Korean Air) Terminal E (Delta)
Detroit	Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport	DTW	McNamara Terminal
Minneapolis Saint Paul	Minneapolis−Saint Paul International Airport	MSP	Terminal 1 (future co-location)
New York City	John F. Kennedy International Airport	JFK	Terminals 1 and 4 (International) Terminals 2 and 3 (Domestic)
Newark	Newark Liberty International Airport	EWR	Terminal B
San Francisco	San Francisco International Airport	SFO	International Terminal A (International) Terminals 1 B and C (Domestic)
Seattle	Seattle–Tacoma International Airport	SEA	South Satellite Terminal
Mexico City	Mexico City International Airport	MEX	Terminal 2	Air France in Terminal 1 KLM in Terminal 1
Monterrey	General Mariano Escobedo International Airport	MTY	Terminal B

Premium status[link]

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.

[edit] 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

[edit] 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)

Qualifying tiers by airline[link]

SkyTeam special livery[link]

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 May 2012^[update], the SkyTeam livery is worn by 27 aircraft.^[75]

See also[link]

	Aviation portal
	Netherlands portal

• Oneworld
• Star Alliance

Footnotes[link]

Notes[link]

1. ^ Founding member^[50]
2. ^ Founding member^[50]
3. ^ Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are part of the airline holding company Air France-KLM
4. ^ Only flights operated by China Airlines aircraft
5. ^ Xiamen Airlines will become a full member in late 2012.^[51][52]
6. ^ Founding member^[50]
7. ^ Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are part of the airline holding company Air France-KLM
8. ^ Founding member^[50]
9. ^ Alitalia re-launched operations in 2009
10. ^ Left the alliance to join Star Alliance with United Airlines
11. ^ Northwest Airlines' operating certificate was combined with Delta Air Lines' one
12. ^ A founding affiliate member and relaunched as Aeroméxico Connect
13. ^ A former charter division, whose operations became part of Aeroméxico.
14. ^ A founding affiliate member. Replaced by Song Airlines
15. ^ Song's operations became part of Delta's fleet.
16. ^ Left the alliance on 24 October 2009 and will join Star Alliance in mid-2012.

References[link]