SkyTeam Celebrates Fifth Anniversary; Members Outline Goals for Remainder of 2005 and the Next Five Years

SkyTeam Celebrates Fifth Anniversary; Members Outline Goals for
Remainder of 2005 and the Next Five Years 


NEW YORK, June 22  /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of its fifth anniversary, the
SkyTeam alliance today reflected on accomplishments to-date and outlined
strategic focus areas for its next five years and beyond.  Members Aeromexico,
Air France, Alitalia, Continental Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air
Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines pledged to
work together on key initiatives, including customer service enhancements,
development of the alliance network to accommodate anticipated passenger growth
and implementation of technology and e-Services alliance-wide.

On June 22, 2000, Aeromexico, Air France, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air
launched the SkyTeam alliance.  "Five years ago, four carriers outlined a goal
of providing more choices, better service and expanding offerings," said Jean-
Cyril Spinetta, chairman and CEO, Air France-KLM.  "Since that time, the
alliance has surpassed those objectives and has grown dramatically in terms of
members, service offerings and amenities, always maintaining our customer
focus."

Membership Development

SkyTeam has grown from four to nine members, with the addition of CSA Czech
Airlines and Alitalia in 2001 and Continental, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and
Northwest last September.

SkyTeam signed agreements with Aeroflot and China Southern in 2004, which paved
the way for their future entry into SkyTeam.  Both carriers are making solid
progress to fulfill the alliance's joining requirements.  In addition, earlier
this month, SkyTeam announced the first airlines to participate in the
Associate program -- Air Europa, Copa Airlines, Kenya Airways and Tarom.  "As
part of our focus on the customer, SkyTeam will continue to grow in a carefully
planned way that provides the most benefits to our passengers," said Yang-Ho
Cho, chairman and CEO of Korean Air.

Network Expansion

SkyTeam has grown from a combined fleet of 979 offering 6,402 daily departures
to 451 destinations in 98 countries in 2000 to a fleet of 2,069 aircraft
offering 15,207 daily departures to 684 global destinations in more than 130
countries in 2005.

Since its inception, SkyTeam members have been committed to providing greater
connectivity to passengers via the hub-and-spokes model.  Strategic network
development will continue to be a key initiative, as demonstrated in the
investments being made in aircraft, equipment and facilities.  For example,
several member airlines have placed orders for superjumbo jets that will serve
the alliance's major hubs, including Incheon and CDG.  The alliance is also
focused on providing complementary point-to-point service to offer a network
that best meets passenger needs.  In addition, the alliance is currently
exploring possibilities for new, larger colocated facilities at Beijing, Madrid
and Tokyo.

Using Technology to Enhance Passenger Services

SkyTeam has grown from serving 174.3 million annual passengers as of July 2000
to serving 343.6 million annual passengers as of April 2005.

Even before IATA announced its "Simplifying the Business" proposal, SkyTeam
members have been investing in e-Services to improve the passenger experience. 
With nearly half of the agreements between members already in place, SkyTeam
will offer alliance-wide interline e-ticketing by the end of the year.  The
alliance is also exploring the future enhancement of individual carriers'
kiosks for all alliance customers and the use of RFID (Radio Frequency
Identification) in baggage tracking.

"Our focus for the next five years is improving service for our customers and
providing them with new product offerings," said Gerald Grinstein, CEO of Delta
Air Lines.  "With further progress in the area of e-Services, closer
coordination among members and more service options for passengers, we are
giving our customers even more reasons to choose SkyTeam."

About SkyTeam

SkyTeam is the global airline alliance partnering nine members, including
Aeromexico, Air France (NYSE:AKH), Alitalia, Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL),
CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines,
Korean Air and Northwest Airlines (NYSE:NWB).  Through one of the world's most
extensive hub networks, SkyTeam offers its 343.6 million annual passengers a
worldwide system of more than 15,000 daily flights covering all major
destinations.  Visit SkyTeam on the Web at http://www.skyteam.com/ . 

DATASOURCE: SkyTeam



CONTACT:  SkyTeam Communications, [phone]



Web site:  http://www.skyteam.com/ 

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