 | SkyTeam HeadlinesSkyTeam NewsFlash — November 2003SkyTeam, the global airline alliance partnering Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air, sets itself apart from the competition with its constant commitment to customer service. SkyTeam NewsFlash, issued monthly, enables the alliance to keep key media fully up-to-date with its most recent developments. Please read on for this month's update of SkyTeam activities. And Now the Weather, Brought to You by SkyTeam On 10 November, SkyTeam and Coke have launched a joint advertising sponsorship targeted at global broadcast cable networks. The campaign is the first joint initiative between the two entities. It has been made possible by their 2002 strategic marketing and beverage agreement, which included provisions for cross-promotional marketing efforts between the alliance and the soft drink giant, bolstered by a fund dedicated to joint sponsorship initiatives. As the first of these marketing efforts, the primetime weather sponsorships will occur in SkyTeam's key markets on CNN (United States, Latin America - CNN En Espaol, Europe and Asia - CNN International), CNBC (Unites States, Europe, Asia) and BBC World (world-wide). SkyTeam Members Delta Air Lines and Air France Strengthen Alliance Partnership In the beginning of November, SkyTeam member Delta Air Lines announced that it reached an agreement for its Airport Customer Service division to provide integrated airport services to its alliance partner Air France at Los Angeles International Airport. In addition to customer service collaboration with Air France, Delta also provides airport services in the United States to other SkyTeam alliance partners, including Aeromexico and Korean Air, in 10 cities. In return, alliance partner Air France provides similar services to Delta in Europe, including Charles DeGaulle and Nice airports in France. Korean Air Advances SkyTeam Commitment to Information Technology and Customer Service Through Partnership with IBM & Hanjin Earlier this month, SkyTeam member Korean Air completed two agreements to outsource its information technology functions. For international locations, the airline finalized a 10-year, $120 million outsourcing contract with IBM to shift the airline's international IT networks to newer Internet-based technologies to increase efficiency and improve customer service. For domenstic locations, Korean Air entered into a $90 million contract with Hanjin Information System Technology. The outsourcing will enable Korean Air to continue its transformation into an "On Demand" business, allowing the airline to respond more quickly to market fluctuations. Korean Air's commitment to its enhancement of IT systems is an additional step in SkyTeam's momentum to continuously improve the customer service experience. Through its technological alliance with IBM, which began in 1998, Korean Air is extending the benefits to the SkyTeam alliance and ensuring efficiencies in the management and operation of its global network. According to Korean Air Chairman and CEO Y.H. Cho, "this will improve our market presence as a world airline leader and let us more actively address the fierce competition in the global marketplace." Korean Air Confirms Purchase of Five A380 Aircraft To reinforce the Incheon International Airport as the strongest hub in Northeast Asia, SkyTeam member Korean Air recently confirmed the purchase of five A380 aircraft, with an option to buy three more. The fleet, to be initially introduced on high density traffic routes from Seoul to the US West Coast, will ensure SkyTeam customers increased access to popular destinations with new standards of comfort in air travel. Korean Air's A380 promises to bring a flagship of 21st century aircraft design to SkyTeam customers around the world, with delivery of the fleet scheduled to take place between late 2007 and 2008. For more information about SkyTeam, please visit www.skyteam.com, or call SkyTeam Communications at 646-935-3978 (in the United States). |   |
