SkyTeam Enhances Network Offering, Presence at London Heathrow
February 05 2008 - 9:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
The Global Airline Alliance Looks Forward to Benefits From EU-U.S.
Open Skies LONDON, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SkyTeam, the
global airline alliance, said today it looks forward to enhancing
its customer offering and increasing its presence at London
Heathrow International Airport (LHR) next month as the EU-U.S. open
skies agreement takes effect. "SkyTeam applauds the progress made
with the first-stage transatlantic open skies agreement between the
EU and the U.S," said Leo van Wijk, chairman of the SkyTeam
Governing Board. "We are pro-competition and strongly believe that
greater liberalisation in the aviation industry opens up new
opportunities for travellers, as well as airlines and their
employees." As of March 30, 2008, SkyTeam travellers will have
access to more route and flight options than ever before. The
alliance will offer in total 11 new daily frequencies through eight
new nonstop routes -- never before available to passengers
traveling within the SkyTeam network -- between the U.S. and LHR,
including: -- Daily service to and from Los Angeles (operated by
Air France with Delta codesharing); -- Twice-daily service to
Houston (operated by Continental); -- Daily service to Atlanta
(operated by Delta with Air France codesharing); -- Service to New
York (twice-daily service to John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
operated by Delta with Air France codesharing and twice-daily
service to Newark Liberty International (EWR) operated by
Continental); and -- Daily service to Detroit, Minneapolis, and
Seattle (operated by Northwest with KLM codesharing). At this time,
SkyTeam's U.S. carriers -- Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines
and Northwest Airlines -- will begin serving LHR, the first U.S.
airlines to gain new entry to the airport for the first time since
1991. SkyTeam members Aeroflot, Air France, Alitalia, CSA, KLM and
Korean Air already serve the UK gateway hub. At the start of their
service to LHR, Continental, Delta and Northwest will join KLM and
Kenya Airways in Terminal 4. SkyTeam U.S. carriers with current
service to London Gatwick airport (LGW) will continue to serve the
airport with direct transatlantic routes. Additionally, members Air
France and KLM will continue serving London City Airport (LCY).
SkyTeam presence at London Heathrow A prominent presence at LHR has
been a long-term priority for SkyTeam, the first realisation of
which is the start of service by the U.S. carriers. "Greater access
to London Heathrow will improve passenger transfer convenience, but
for SkyTeam, the opening of the airport is a symbol of change,"
said Mr. van Wijk. "For years, the airport was closed to most U.S.
airlines, including the three U.S. carriers in the SkyTeam
alliance. With the open skies agreement, Heathrow is now open for
more competition, which is good for the passenger." Now the future
anchor alliance of Terminal 4, SkyTeam began taking steps toward
creating a shared terminal at LHR almost two years ago. Throughout
this process, the alliance has been working closely with the
British Airport Authority (BAA) on plans to transform the facility
into a SkyTeam showcase and ensure that the alliance's customers
enjoy a competitive experience as they travel through LHR. Today,
the alliance's vision for the co-location includes making the
facility into a mini-hub -- "a home away from home" for member
airlines serving the airport. SkyTeam's move to Terminal 4 -- part
of a broader airport relocation project coordinated by BAA -- will
take effect over the next 12 months, with the welcoming of the U.S.
carriers completing the first phase. More details on the project
will be released at a later date. About SkyTeam SkyTeam is the
global airline alliance partnering eleven members, including
Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, China Southern
Airlines, Continental Airlines, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines,
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines, and
three Associate Airlines: Air Europa (Spain), Copa Airlines
(Panama) and Kenya Airways. Through one of the world's most
extensive hub networks, SkyTeam offers its 428 million annual
passengers a worldwide system of 16,400 daily flights covering 841
destinations in 162 countries. http://www.skyteam.com/. DATASOURCE:
SkyTeam CONTACT: SkyTeam Communications, +1-646-935-3961 Web site:
http://www.skyteam.com/ http://www.continental.com/
http://www.continental.com/company/news
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