SkyTeam, the global airline alliance, has been named ‘Alliance of the Year’ in this year’s Air Transport Awards. Held in Montreal on Sunday, 19 March, the annual awards are the only international prizes that award all the main categories of the air transport industry. It is the third time SkyTeam has been ranked as the number one alliance and the accolade comes in the same month that SkyTeam officially welcomed new member Virgin Atlantic.    Over the last 12 months, SkyTeam has established itself as a driving force for greener air travel, having launched The Sustainable Flight Challenge in May 2022. As well as helping customers to travel more sustainably, the alliance’s ongoing focus on technology continues to make travel more seamless, while customers have two new global airport lounges to enjoy in Santiago de Chile and São Paulo. SkyTeam is also the first alliance to have unanimously committed to IATA’s 25by2025 initiative to help increase gender diversity in the aviation industry.   Announcing SkyTeam as Alliance of the Year, Dr Kostas Iatrou, Director General of the Air Transport Organization said: “SkyTeam is taking a holistic approach to global travel, where its commitment to a seamless customer experience is matched by a commitment to caring for the planet. The judges were also impressed by SkyTeam’s work to increase gender diversity in the aviation industry through its RISE Leadership program and alliance-wide participation in IATA’s 25by2025 initiative.”   SkyTeam CEO and Managing Director, Patrick Roux, said: “Across our global network, SkyTeam people work hard day in, day out to deliver a more seamless customer experience - from SkyPriority airport services to new lounges in São Paulo and Santiago de Chile. And as well as a focus on transforming the travel experience through technology, we are working to make customers’ travel with SkyTeam more sustainable through the Sustainable Flight Challenge which is driving new innovations and ways of working to create a greener future for our industry.”   Launched in May 2022, The Sustainable Flight Challenge is an industry-first initiative that brings global airlines together in a shared mission to develop new ideas and innovations to make air travel greener. The second challenge takes off in May 2023 and has been extended to ‘friends & family’ airlines close to SkyTeam. Participating flights will be evaluated against set criteria by an independent, diverse panel of industry experts.

 

• Virgin Atlantic is officially joining SkyTeam today, enhancing the alliance’s offering at both London Heathrow and Manchester Airport
• Customers can now benefit from more opportunities to earn and redeem points, with access to an extensive global route network
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold and Silver members will receive a raft of benefits, including SkyPriority airport services for Gold members
• Virgin Atlantic is already a founding partner of a Joint Venture with SkyTeam members Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM

  Virgin Atlantic is formally joining SkyTeam, the global airline alliance, at a signing ceremony in London today.  The move means Virgin Atlantic becomes SkyTeam’s first and only UK member airline, enhancing the alliance’s transatlantic network and services to and from Heathrow and Manchester airports.   Virgin Atlantic customers will now benefit from a consistent, seamless customer experience, across 1,000 global destinations in over 170 countries.  Customers can conveniently book every SkyTeam member flight on a single ticket, checking in with baggage just once through to their final destination.   Flying Club members have more opportunities to earn Virgin Points and Tier Points across all member airlines, accelerating both their rewards and tier status.  Additionally, Flying Club members will be able to redeem hard-earned points on SkyTeam member airlines. Alongside joint venture partners Delta & Air France-KLM, these include Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, China Airlines, China Eastern*, Czech Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, ITA* Airways, Kenya Airways, Korean Air, MEA, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines and XiamenAir.   The airline’s Flying Club members will receive host of benefits which will enhance their journeys across the SkyTeam network. Virgin Atlantic Silver Card holders are recognised as SkyTeam Elite Members, whilst the airline’s Gold Card members have become Elite Plus. SkyTeam Elite Plus, First and Business Class customers enjoy SkyPriority services including priority check in, baggage handling and boarding. Extra baggage allowance is offered to both Elite and Elite Plus members.   SkyTeam Elite Plus members travelling on Virgin Atlantic, Delta* or Aeromexico will have access to Virgin Atlantic’s renowned Clubhouse at London Heathrow, whilst other SkyTeam Elite Plus members can take advantage of their airline-designated lounge at Terminal 3.  Elite Plus members will also enjoy a network of 750  worldwide airport lounges to choose from*.   Virgin Atlantic’s entry into the alliance builds upon the success of its transatlantic joint venture with Delta and Air France-KLM, each already long-established SkyTeam members. Virgin Atlantic is co-located at London Heathrow’s Terminal 3, alongside Delta and existing SkyTeam members Aeromexico and China Eastern, providing customers with smooth airside transits and the most convenient connection times possible.   Shai Weiss, CEO Virgin Atlantic, commented, “SkyTeam shares a customer first ethos that mirrors our own and our entry into the alliance today marks an important milestone in achieving our vision to become the most-loved travel company.   “We want to reward those who choose to fly with Virgin Atlantic and our Flying Club members deserve the very best loyalty proposition.  Our SkyTeam membership offers this through a global network of maximised reward opportunities, alongside enhanced services on the ground and in the skies.”   Patrick Roux, SkyTeam CEO and Managing Director, said: “We are delighted to welcome Virgin Atlantic into SkyTeam, taking an already close relationship to new heights and elevating our customer offering with more routes to exciting destinations and access to aspirational airport lounges - not to mention the airline’s world-famous flair.   “The U.K. is a key market for SkyTeam and with Virgin Atlantic on board, customers can look forward to more opportunities to earn and redeem miles as they fly, enjoying the iconic travel experience that makes our newest member a globally loved airline.”   Codeshare agreements are already in place with Aeromexico and Middle East Airlines, in addition to existing codeshares with Air France-KLM and Delta, with options for more codeshares to follow later this year.  Interline agreements with all SkyTeam members are already in place, providing one touch point for all customers, creating a seamless journey on one ticket.   Virgin Atlantic flies to 12 destinations throughout the USA in partnership with Delta and Air France-KLM including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco. Last year the airline launched services to two new US destinations, Austin and Tampa. Virgin Atlantic also operates an extensive Caribbean portfolio including Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica, The Bahamas and from November, Turks and Caicos. Virgin Atlantic also operates services to China, India, Israel, Nigeria and South Africa. A new service to the Maldives will begin from October.   *China Eastern accrual and redemption will be available in July 2023.   *ITA redemption will be available later in 2023.   *As per existing agreements, Delta Gold Medallion members will not have access to Virgin Atlantic’s Heathrow Clubhouse, unless travelling in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class or Delta One.   For further detail on Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse access to SkyTeam members please visit virginatlantic.com. For further information please contact the Virgin Atlantic Press Office on [email protected] or call 01293 747 373.

Global airline alliance SkyTeam has boosted its 'SkyCare&Protect' pledge with additional health and safety measures. With regulations rapidly evolving, the alliance's member airlines are equipping customers with the latest travel restrictions and how and where to book pre-travel Covid tests. Since launching the initiative last year, SkyTeam airlines' have strengthened the breadth of information available to customers with various new seqarch tools such as a new test labs locator. The alliance has just launched a new SkyCare&Protect video that outlines the travel journey from start to finish. "Providing real-time digitized information and expanding health safety measures through SkyCare&Protect is another way SkyTeam airlines are making travel safer and more seamless," says Walter Cho, Chairman of the SkyTeam Alliance. "Customers can trust us to provide all the information they need, including how to find and book the right COVID test." Other new SkyCare&Protect measures include a testing labs locator tool on member airlines' websites or on SkyTeam.com available in 16 languages. It has also added access to a travel requirement checker on all 19 member airlines' websites and SkyTeam.com, a  pre-trip messaging sevice and contactless boarding. SkyTeam, which includes major airlines Delta Air Lines, Air France, China Eastern and Korean Air, launched SkyCare&Protect in June 2020.