SkyTeam Members prepare for strong 2004 Summer Travel Season

SkyTeam, a global airline alliance partnering Aeroméxico, Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air, today said its members are preparing for potential growth in 2004 with new flight options. 

With the International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicting a seven percent annual growth rate in global passenger traffic this year, SkyTeam members are strategically adding more long-haul international flights this summer, further strengthening the alliance’s global route network.

“SkyTeam members are in a good position to serve the expected increase of travelers this summer. Whether flying for business or pleasure, SkyTeam passengers will be able to select from additional options designed to provide greatest convenience,” said Dominique Patry, Air France's vice president for international affairs and alliances. “Alliance members are looking forward to providing even more choices in 2004 as the momentum continues.”

Added frequency and capacity

This summer, Korean Air will increase its schedule by 40 flights per week while Air France is preparing for a nine percent increase in capacity with 115 additional frequencies per week. Alitalia anticipates year over year growth of approximately 15 percent, with additional flights between Rome and New York-JFK, key hubs in the alliance’s network.

“By adding flights between major hubs, alliance members help passengers access all destinations within SkyTeam’s extensive network with the least number of connections,” said Giorgio Callegari, Alitalia’s corporate vice president alliances.

New Routes Launched by Alliance Member Airlines

· As of March 28, Air France will offer non-stop round-trip services between France and Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City)

· Alitalia is also launching several new routes between its Milan and Rome hubs and destinations in Asia, Europe and the United States, including new service from Rome to Boston and Milan Malpensa to Washigton D.C. The airline also intends to start service between Milan and New Delhi with six flights per week, pending approval from the Indian government.

· Korean Air is beginning a new direct service between Seoul and Prague.

· In the Atlantic region, Delta Air Lines will offer six new routes to destinations in the Caribbean (New York-JFK to Santo Domingo and San Juan), Mexico (Cincinnati-Cancun) and Europe (Cincinnati to Amsterdam and Rome), as well as nine additional codeshare routes with SkyTeam member airlines.

· Aeroméxico’s summer service will include more than ten additional weekly flights from Mexico to destinations in the U.S. and South America. The airline is also expanding service between Mexico City and Madrid to a total of 11 flights per week.

New destinations

The thirteen new SkyTeam destinations are in multiple regions of the world:

· Both Guangzhou (China) and Tehran (Iran) are on Air France’s summer schedule.

· In addition, Doha (Qatar), Kuwait City (Kuwait), Malabo (Equatorial Guinea), Pointe-Noire (Congo) and Tashkent (Uzbekistan) will be served through the new Air France “Dedicate” service, featuring scheduled routes and direct flights to some of the more remote parts of the world.

· In Europe, CSA Czech Airlines is planning its largest eastward expansion in the airline’s history this summer, including new service to: Samara and Ekaterinburg in Russia; Baku, Azerbaijan; Krakow, Poland; and Dortmund, Germany.

· Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines is launching direct service to St. Lucia in the Caribbean from its Atlanta hub.