Aeroflot ‘wants to join Sky Team’

The long-maligned Russian carrier Aeroflot has applied to become a member of the worldwide airline consortium, Sky Team. According to a report by the BBC, the consortium, which includes Air France and Delta Air Lines, has “welcomed the application”, but says there are several hurdles that must be overcome before the carrier is accepted as a member. The BBC news website reports Sky Team as stating that the Russian carrier “has yet to meet its quality standards”, but praised Aeroflot’s large hub network, which made it an “excellent candidate for membership”.