SkyTeam History
Aeromexico, Air France, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air founded SkyTeam in New York City on June 22, 2000. Since then, we have added member airlines from almost every corner of the globe, connecting people to places via some of the world’s most modern and convenient hubs. As we’ve grown, we have never lost sight of our founding promise of ‘caring more about you’, working to deliver the most seamless, and sustainable, customer experience of any global alliance.
2023
- January: SkyTeam launches an upgraded SkyPriority Panel Audit App, offering new tools and more ways for top travelers to review their SkyPriority experience.
- February: SkyTeam and Global Lounge Network partner to open their first co-branded lounge in São Paulo, SkyTeam’s second lounge in Latin America.
- March: Virgin Atlantic joins SkyTeam, adding London Heathrow and Manchester Airports as hubs.
- March: SkyTeam scoops ‘Alliance of the Year’ in the Air Transport Awards 2023.
- May: SkyTeam’s second Sustainable Flight Challenge takes off, uniting 22 global airlines across 72 short-, medium- and long-haul flights in a shared mission to find a greener future for air travel.
- June: Andrés Conesa, Aeromexico’s Chief Executive Officer is appointed chair of SkyTeam’s Alliance Governing Board at the IATA AGM in Istanbul.
2022
- January: SkyTeam’s Seamless Check-in technology is launched between Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines, enabling customers to check-in digitally via a single airline’s app or website for all flights in their itinerary.
- April: SkyTeam and Aeroflot agree to temporarily suspend the airline’s SkyTeam membership.
- May: SkyTeam launches The Sustainable Flight Challenge, an industry-first sustainability initiative bringing 16 airlines together to drive innovation and new ideas by harnessing the power of friendly competition to make flying more sustainable.
- May: SkyTeam opens a new branded Lounge in Santiago de Chile – its first in Latin America.
- September: Virgin Atlantic announces its intention to join SkyTeam and become its first UK-based member.
- September: SkyTeam reopens its new-look Sydney Lounge, completely revamped to deliver an enhanced guest experience designed with sustainability in mind.
- October: SkyTeam appoints Patrick Roux as its new CEO.
2021
- January: Facilitating international travel for customers during the pandemic, SkyTeam launches a global online Testing Labs Locator, enabling travelers to find accredited COVID-19 testing facilities in over 75 countries.
- September: SkyTeam members unanimously commit to IATA’s 25by2025 initiative to drive greater gender equality across aviation industry.
- October: ITA Airways, Italy’s new flag carrier, joins SkyTeam
- December: SkyTeam scoops Gold and Silver in the International Customer Experience Awards ICXA 2021 for SkyCare&Protect and SkyPriority respectively.
2020
- June: To keep customers and employees safer when flying across our network during the pandemic, SkyTeam launches SkyCare&Protect, an alliance-wide pledge to aligned, multi-layered health safety measures.
- Throughout the year, SkyTeam joins forces with oneworld and Star Alliance, calling on international governments to support measures including slot relief for airlines and a globally harmonized approach to health testing.
2019
- April: Saudia Cargo becomes the 12th member of SkyTeam Cargo, the world’s only cargo alliance.
- June: SkyTeam appoints Walter Cho, Chairman and CEO of Korean Air, as chair of the Alliance Governing Board.
- December: SkyTeam’s branded Lounge opens at the new international airport in Istanbul.
2018
- March: SkyTeam launches, SkyTeam Rebooking, an innovative solution enabling all members to rebook passengers onto any other SkyTeam airline’s flight using their own reservation systems during irregular operations.
- May: SkyTeam launches a real-time availability and flight booking tool, enabling frequent flyers to plan and book travel using their miles across all member airlines.
- June: SkyTeam names Kristin Colvile as its new CEO – the first and only woman to lead a global airline alliance.
- September: New metasearch tool launches on SkyTeam.com, making it easier to find and book flights across SkyTeam’s global network.
- October: SkyTeam partners with global car rental company, Hertz, to offer more benefits to Frequent Flyers and the opportunity to earn miles on car hire.
- October: SkyTeam launches the SkyPriority Panel Audit App, inviting top travelers to help reshape the travel experience.
2017
- April: SkyTeam launches a branded Marine and Offshore product to meet the specific travel needs of the M&O industry.
- November: SkyTeam opens a branded Lounge in Vancouver, the first SkyTeam Lounge in the Americas.
2016
- March: SkyTeam awarded 'Airline Alliance of the Year' 2016 by Air Transport News.
- April: The SkyTeam branded Lounge opens at Dubai International Airport.
- October: Never miss a mile! SkyTeam launches an online retro-crediting tool to help Frequent Flyers keep their miles balances up to date in a matter of clicks.
- December: SkyTeam launches a dedicated China Corporate Agreements product, delivering tailor-made global travel solutions for companies in Greater China.
2015
- January: SkyTeam opens a new branded Lounge at Sydney International Airport.
- March: SkyTeam awarded 'Airline Alliance of the Year' 2015 by Air Transport News.
- September: SkyTeam scoops two awards and is named “Airline Alliance of the Year” by Air Transport News and “Best Alliance in Latin America” by Latin Trade Magazine.
- November: Perry Cantarutti is named SkyTeam’s Chief Executive Officer, taking over from Michael Wisbrun who becomes chair of the Governing Board.
2014
- March: SkyTeam welcomes Garuda Indonesia as its newest member airline.
- July: SkyTeam opens a new branded Lounge at Istanbul’s Atatürk International Airport.
2013
- February: SkyTeam opens a dedicated SkyPriority fast-track security lane at Tokyo’s Narita International airport, offering premium customers a smoother airport experience from check-in to boarding.
- May: SkyTeam enhanced its Global Meetings product to offer more convenience when organizing international events by launching an online booking tool. The new features include an online self-booking tool, enabling delegates to book discounted travel on any of SkyTeam’s member airlines through a dedicated portal.
2012
- March: SkyTeam launches SkyPriority, becoming the first airline alliance to offer a series of branded priority airport services offered to Elite Plus, First and Business Class customers.
- During 2012, SkyTeam welcomes four new member airlines into the alliance: Saudia, Aerolíneas Argentinas, XiamenAir and Middle East Airlines – Air Liban (MEA).
2011
- June: SkyTeam appoints Michael Wisbrun as its new Managing Director.
- June: SkyTeam welcomes China Eastern Airlines as its newest member airline.
- August: SkyTeam introduces an aligned extra baggage policy for Elite and Elite Plus frequent flyers traveling across all member airlines.
- September: China Airlines, the flag carrier of Taiwan, is welcomed into SkyTeam.
2010
- January: SkyTeam is named "Best Airline Alliance" in the 2009 Global Traveler Awards for the fifth consecutive year.
- June: Vietnam Airlines and TAROM are welcomed as SkyTeam’s newest member airlines.
- June: SkyTeam marks its 10th anniversary milestone on 22 June 2010.
2009
- January: SkyTeam’s dedicated management office opens in Amsterdam led by Managing Director, Marie-Joseph Malé.
- April: The first-ever aircraft painted in SkyTeam livery – a Delta Air Lines’ Boeing 767-400ER – debuts its new paint job on a flight from Atlanta to Milan.
- June: SkyTeam opens its first-ever branded Lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport, a two-story facility located in Terminal 4.
2008
- SkyTeam announces plans to open a branded Lounge at London’s Heathrow Airport.
2007
- January: SkyTeam is named “Best Airline Alliance 2006” by Global Traveler Magazine for the second consecutive year.
- June: SkyTeam appoints Leo van Wijk as the first Chairman of the Alliance Governing Board.
- September: Air Europa and Kenya Airways became members of SkyTeam.
2006
- January: Global Traveler readers vote SkyTeam “Best Airline Alliance 2005” in the magazine’s annual survey.
- April: Aeroflot joins SkyTeam, becoming the alliance’s 10th member airline.
- June: Nine SkyTeam members sign a Memorandum of Understanding with British Airport Authority (BAA) to co-locate their operations at London Heathrow’s Terminal 4.
- October: Four SkyTeam members announce plans to co-locate their services at São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport (GRU).
2005
- February: SkyTeam opens a new co-located facility at Mexico City International Airport, with enhanced and expanded services for customers.
- April: SkyTeam Cargo is recognized as "Best Air Freight Alliance" at the 2005 Asian Freight and Supply Chain Awards (AFSCA)
2004
- February: The European Commission and U.S Department of Justice approve the proposed merger between Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, paving the way to KLM joining SkyTeam.
- September: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is welcomed into the alliance.
2003
- June: A new SkyTeam terminal opens at Paris' Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport.
- June: SkyTeam opens a joint ticket facility at Brussels National Airport to better serve customers.
2002
- January: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) approves SkyTeam’s European and U.S. members' application for trans-Atlantic Antitrust Immunity (ATI).
- June: SkyTeam becomes the first airline alliance with ATI for both trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific routes.
2001
- March: Korean Air's new hub opens at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport.
- April: Czech Airlines becomes SkyTeam's 5th member airline
- November: SkyTeam Cargo members Air France, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air launch a U.S. Cargo Sales Joint Venture, providing a centralized source for booking and service.
2000
- June 22: SkyTeam is founded by Aeromexico, Air France, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air, becoming the first global airline alliance created around the customer and offering 6,402 daily flights to 451 destinations in 98 countries.
- September: SkyTeam extends its focus to cargo, announcing the world's first airline cargo alliance, SkyTeam Cargo.
- October: No smoking. SkyTeam makes all flights across its global network smoke-free.
1999
- June 22: Air France and Delta Air Lines sign an exclusive long-term strategic agreement laying the foundations for a major global alliance.
