SkyTeam Welcomes CSA Czech Airlines As Its Newest Member

CSA Complements SkyTeam Global Route Network with Central European Presence and Trans-Atlantic Service

SkyTeam, the global airline alliance founded by Aeroméxico, Air France, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air, today welcomed its newest member, CSA Czech Airlines as an official member. SkyTeam announced its intent to add CSA to the alliance following a performance review in October 2000.

"SkyTeam is thrilled to officially welcome CSA as a member in our network," said the Aeroméxico, Air France, Delta and Korean Air CEOs in a joint statement. "Our customers are at the core of our alliance. For this reason, we devote considerable effort to choosing our new members, because the decision means more to us than simply increasing the size of our alliance. We are committed to develop SkyTeam with airlines that will not only uphold our commitment to our passengers, but will also continue to improve and enhance the quality of the services we offer."

The founding SkyTeam CEOs voted to bring CSA into the alliance during a quarterly Governing Board meeting in Seoul on March 20. The announcement was made during a press conference at the newly unveiled Incheon International Airport, also in Seoul.

"CSA is honored to become an official SkyTeam member," said CSA president and chief executive officer Miroslav Kula. "As an airline strongly dedicated to our passengers, we are proud to join these airlines with the same high standards for customer service."

CSA brings an additional European stronghold to SkyTeam with its international hub in Prague, complementing Air France’s operations in Paris. SkyTeam’s Prague hub will provide a marked increase of travel destinations for passengers traveling through Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle and Far East. Additionally, CSA operates daily flights between European and North American destinations, enhancing SkyTeam’s ability to offer its passengers the most flight options on the most frequently traveled routes in the world. CSA serves its 2.4 million annual passengers with 134 daily departures to 61 destinations in 38 countries. Its fleet of 30 Airbus, Boeing and ATR Aerospatiale Alenia aircraft has an average age of 6.12 years.

Effective March 25, CSA Czech Airlines frequent flyers will be able to enjoy all SkyTeam customer benefits.

About SkyTeam

SkyTeam is the first global airline alliance created around the customer, partnering Aeroméxico, Air France, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air. Through one of the world’s most extensive hub networks, SkyTeam offers its 176.7 million annual passengers a worldwide system of 7,091 daily flights covering all the major destinations, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, where nearly 80 percent of the world’s traffic flies, while still providing a consistent standard of performance, quality and detailed attention to service.