Global travelers will have additional route and fare choices as SkyTeam announced that Continental Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest Airlines are now full members of one of the world`s fastest growing airline alliances. The SkyTeam Governing Board also revealed that effective September 15, passengers will be able to accrue and redeem frequent flyer miles interchangeably on any of the nine member airlines. With the addition of three new members, SkyTeam now serves 341 million passengers with 14,320 daily departures to 658 global destinations in more than 130 countries.

SkyTeam`s Governing Board said, The entry of Continental, KLM and Northwest into the alliance marks the single largest airline integration in aviation history and is an important milestone for global airline customers. When the alliance launched in 2000, we promised SkyTeam would alter the competitive landscape for airline alliances by focusing on the needs of our customers. Our growth over the past four years in terms of network reach, frequencies and destinations is a testament to our commitment to continually live up to that promise.

Growing the Network

The three new carriers add to SkyTeam`s extensive network of hubs and destination cities, allowing member airlines to provide their passengers more travel options. Together, the three new members add ten additional hub locations and 141 new destinations to the alliance`s roster, strengthening SkyTeam`s reach in all key travel regions:

• In Asia-Pacific, Northwest`s hub at Tokyo`s Narita airport and Continental`s Guam hub will join Korean Air`s Seoul-Incheon hub as SkyTeam`s major hubs in the region, linking passengers to 11 new destinations in five countries. SkyTeam`s Asia offerings now include Northwest`s new service from Portland, Oregon to Tokyo-Narita and service from Detroit to Guangzhou, China, scheduled to begin in late October. In addition, Continental begins new service between Honolulu and Nagoya, Japan in December. Thanks to combined network and fares, Air France and KLM are able to offer unparalleled service between Europe and Asia.


• In Europe, with four European carriers, including Europe`s first pan-European airline group, SkyTeam will now offer passengers more choice on transatlantic routes. With Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines and KLM, SkyTeam has hubs and strong market positions in all European regions and a very extensive intra European network.


• In the Americas, with Aerom