ROISSY, 19 June 2006 - The members of SkyTeam (other than Aeroflot ) confirm that they have just received a so-called statement of objections from the European Commission. A statement of objections is a normal step in a Commission competition investigation, and the members of SkyTeam shall now examine carefully the Commission's objections.

The Commission's Directorate-General for Competition has been reviewing the SkyTeam alliance since it was launched in 2000. The scope of its inquiry, which originally focused on Aeroméxico, Air France, Alitalia, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air, was extended when Continental, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest Airlines joined the alliance in September 2004.

They shall file their replies to the Commission's paper in the autumn [fall], and remain confident that they will be able to settle the case amicably in due course.

About SkyTeam
SkyTeam is the global airline alliance partnering 10 members, including Aeroflot, Aeroméxico, Air France, Alitalia, Continental Airlines, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines. Through one of the world's most extensive hub networks, SkyTeam offers its 373 million annual passengers a worldwide system of nearly 15,000 daily flights covering all major destinations. In 2005, readers of Global Traveler Magazine voted SkyTeam "Best Airline Alliance." Please visit SkyTeam on the Web at www.skyteam.com