SAS joins Skyteam

SAS has officially joined the SkyTeam global airline alliance today, marking a major milestone for the airline as it escapes Chapter 11 and tries to operate in a more financially secure position. 

By joining SkyTeam, SAS contributes to the alliance’s strategic focus on operational synergies and sustainability. SAS customers will also benefit from seamless connectivity to over 1,060 destinations in SkyTeam’s extensive global network, notably opening new opportunities in regions such as Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Codeshare agreements are already in place with Air France-KLM with options for codeshares with more SkyTeam members to follow later. 

SkyTeam Chairman, Andres Conesa commented: “We are happy to welcome SAS into the SkyTeam family, a customer-focused airline that shares our vision of delivering a high quality, future-proof travel experience across the globe. Bringing SAS on board as a new member opens exciting new opportunities for customers. As we approach our 25th anniversary year, I am excited for the future of SkyTeam.”

Skyteam Alliances welcomes SAS finally.

SAS has officially joined the SkyTeam global airline alliance today, marking a major milestone for the airline as it escapes Chapter 11 and tries to operate in a more financially secure position. 

By joining SkyTeam, SAS contributes to the alliance’s strategic focus on operational synergies and sustainability. SAS customers will also benefit from seamless connectivity to over 1,060 destinations in SkyTeam’s extensive global network, notably opening new opportunities in regions such as Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Codeshare agreements are already in place with Air France-KLM with options for codeshares with more SkyTeam members to follow later. 

SkyTeam Chairman, Andres Conesa commented: “We are happy to welcome SAS into the SkyTeam family, a customer-focused airline that shares our vision of delivering a high quality, future-proof travel experience across the globe. Bringing SAS on board as a new member opens exciting new opportunities for customers. As we approach our 25th anniversary year, I am excited for the future of SkyTeam.”

SkyTeam’s top travellers help reshape the customer experience via upgraded SkyPriority Panel Audit App

SkyTeam, the global airline alliance, has upgraded its innovative SkyPriority Panel Audit App for Elite Plus, First and Business Class customers. Travelers can now complete quick surveys rating their experience of 750 airport lounges, including SkyTeam-branded lounges in Dubai, Istanbul, Santiago de Chile, Sydney and Vancouver, as well as review SkyPriority touchpoints at more than 970 airports.

Free to download from Google Play and the App Store, available in 16 languages and with a loyal community of users, the app empowers SkyTeam’s top travelers to share feedback at every step. Whether dropping a bag or waiting to board, each review takes less than 60 seconds and customers can add comments and photos.

“Customer insight is key. That’s why we have upgraded our innovative app to put more tools at customers’ fingertips, so they can tell SkyTeam what they think of each touchpoint on their airport journey,” said Christian Oberlé, SkyTeam’s Chief Experience Officer. “This combination of feedback and technology means we can work closely with our members to deliver a reshaped travel experience that exceeds customer expectations.”

Virgin to join SkyTeam alliance....

Virgin Atlantic will soon be joining SkyTeam, an alliance of airlines working together to provide a more seamless travel experience,  at every step of the journey.

The UK's Virgin Atlantic, which is partly owned by U.S mega-carrier Delta is to join the global airline alliance SkyTeam, the two have announced today. 

Virgin Atlantic is set to become a member early next year and has long been expected, as the carrier is also closely linked in with existing members Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM on a transatlantic tie-up and are co-located at London Heathrow’s Terminal Three, alongside existing SkyTeam members Aeromexico and China Eastern, which should aid smooth airside transits and convenient connections. 

Virgin Atlantic customers will benefit from a consistent, seamless customer experience, across 1,000+ global destinations. They’ll also have more opportunities to earn and redeem points across member airlines and access to a network of 750+ airport lounges, spanning six continents.

The airline’s Flying Club members will enjoy significant benefits from the day of joining, with a global expansion of its loyalty offering. Virgin Atlantic Silver Card holders will be recognised as SkyTeam Elite Members, whilst the airline’s Gold Card members will become Elite Plus.  This recognition provides a raft of benefits, including priority check-in, baggage handling and boarding. Flying Club members will be able to take advantage of the benefits as soon as Virgin Atlantic officially enrols in SkyTeam, which is expected in early 2023.

Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said: “At Virgin Atlantic, we strive to create thoughtful experiences that feel different for our customers and SkyTeam shares that customer-first ethos. 2022 marks the year Virgin Atlantic gets back to its best for our customers and people and joining SkyTeam is an important milestone. Our membership will allow us to enhance established relationships with our valued partners at Delta and Air France-KLM, as well as opening up opportunities to collaborate with new airlines. It will enable a seamless customer experience, with an expanded network and maximised loyalty benefits.”

oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance Urge Universal Travel Standards

To facilitate the safe restart of international travel and restore the value contributed by travel and tourism to the world’s economy, the three global airline alliances oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance are calling on G7 governments, at their upcoming leadership summit on 11-13 June, to agree on a common set of travel and health standards to enable the safe reopening of borders.

COVID-19 has significantly impacted the travel and tourism sector, which has long been a key contributor to many economies. A recent estimate by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) showed that international tourism declined by around 80% in 2020. Prior to the pandemic, tourism contributed more than 4% of GDP for the average OECD country, with the World Travel and Tourism Council estimating up to 174 million jobs at risk globally.

In unison, the CEOs of the three global alliances – Kristin Colvile at SkyTeam, Rob Gurney for oneworld, and Jeffrey Goh of Star Alliance – said: “International air travel and tourism are vital to the global economy. With considerable data now available to support government decisions in managing risks, decisive action from G7 members to open borders and support clear, consistent, and data-driven measures, would remove uncertainty, particularly around testing and quarantine.”

World’s airline alliances join together to call on international governments to act quickly to adopt testing protocols and digital health pass technology to reopen borders

World’s airline alliances join together to call on international governments to act quickly to adopt testing protocols 

and digital health pass technology to reopen borders

 

The three global airline alliances, oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance, are in full support of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) second-phase Council on Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) report released on 10 November. Together, they urge governments to implement the report guidelines for passenger testing protocols, as well as the adoption of digital health pass technology, so air travel may safely resume.

Government-imposed travel and entry restrictions continue to significantly impact global travel demand. Meanwhile, COVID-19 testing has emerged as an important part of an end-to-end solution to enable the safe restart of international travel by potentially reducing the reliance on the blunt instrument of blanket quarantines.

 

“We welcome the publication of the updated CART report which, among other things, calls for the serious consideration of screening and testing as a means for easing travel and border restrictions, and reviving the travel and tourism industry and the global economy,” said Star Alliance CEO Jeffrey Goh. “A robust protocol for testing will also provide further evidence to demonstrate that air travel is not a material cause for infections and will pave the way for a framework of trust to be established between countries.”

 

SkyTeam, oneworld and Star Alliance join forces to give customers confidence in travel

The three global airline alliances, SkyTeam - of which Delta is a founding member - oneworld and Star Alliance have combined forces to highlight how airlines are working to ensure customers’ wellbeing while travelling.  

Dear Travellers is a video created to give an insight into the many measures customers can expect to see over the coming months, as travel restrictions are slowly eased and the world starts to reopen. 

Together, the three alliances represent more than 50 percent of the world’s air traffic. Each has announced a multi-layered approach to safer operations with initiatives that meet or exceed the stringent measures recommended by health experts, regulators and leading industry bodies.  

The alliances are recommending a number of safety measures that Delta already has in place, such as wearing face coverings and using HEPA filters, but we have also implemented initiatives above and beyond these including capping capacity and blocking middle seats onboard our flights. 

Kristin Colvile, SkyTeam’s CEO, said: “The safety and well-being of passengers and employees have always been our members’ number one priority. We have seen an incredible level of cooperation within the entire aviation community to implement multiple layers of protection around health and hygiene. Passengers can be assured that when they travel many actions have been taken to enhance their personal safety in the airport and the air.” 

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SkyTeam launches safety measures as all 19 airlines commit to new SkyCare&Protect pledge

SkyTeam launches safety measures as all 19 airlines commit to new SkyCare&Protect pledge

On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, SkyTeam, the global airline alliance co-founded by Delta, has announced SkyCare&Protect. This new pledge sees all 19 airline partners support a series of personal safety measures to help protect passengers and airline employees when they travel on or between SkyTeam members.

Announcing the pledge, Walter Cho, Chairperson of SkyTeam said, “20 years ago today, SkyTeam was founded with the promise to care more about our customers. Although the world and our industry have drastically changed in the last six months, initiatives such as SkyCare&Protect are a shining example of the alliance’s commitment to look after customers when they travel across SkyTeam’s network.”

SkyCare&Protect brings together safety and hygiene practices from each member airline and recommendations from health and industry authorities. This includes the International Civil Aviation Organization, International Air Transport Association, and Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.

oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance member airlines call on governments and stakeholders for extraordinary support

oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance member airlines call on governments and stakeholders for extraordinary support

On behalf of their member airlines, the three global airline alliances oneworld®, SkyTeam and Star Alliance are jointly calling on governments and stakeholders to take action to alleviate the unprecedented challenges faced by the global airline industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three global alliances, which represent almost 60 airlines around the world that contribute more than half of global airline capacity, are strongly supporting a request by the International Air Transport Association for regulators to suspend slot usage rules for the northern summer 2020 season as the airline industry suffers from extraordinary reductions in passenger demand.

The alliances welcome the moves in recent days by some regulators who have suspended slot regulations temporarily and urge others to follow suit promptly. They also request that regulators consider extending the suspensions for the entire operating season.