New skyteam partners??

[joostvandeelen]

Hey everybody

I was flying back from Istanbul last monday and of course I took a glance at the good old "Holland Herald" while I was on a KLM flight.
Seeing Skyteam's dominant position in Europe and North & Central America, and a stabil position in Both Asia and Africa it made me wonder if there are any future plans of airliners entering Skyteam from respectively south America and/or Australia?

What about GOL for instance, with there highly dense connections within Brazil and suurounding countries?
Seems like the only real option since TAM is winking at Star Alliance?

Any options for Australia which I do not seem to think of?

Greetz


Joost

[ehusmann]

In an article in Dutch news paper "Het Parool" some time ago about Sky Team, the spokesperson mentioned a possible extension in South America. It also specifically mentioned that any new partners should not be large network carriers, but carriers that will help the alliance to get more reach in areas they are weak right now. GOL would be a good possibility I think.

Erwin

[streep]

GOL has a buget airline structure, so will not fit in an alliance.

Streep

[joostvandeelen]

I Flew Gol aswell as TAM in May, and the difference in service is none to be quite honest.
Sure they don't serve full meals on short stretches but then again, cookie and a cold pancake on a 3 hour flight with KLM is getting pretty low cost IMHO...

[ehusmann]

I think AF/KL and GOL do not share your opinion: press release from AF/KL
(referring to streep)

Erwin

[nuckleuz]

I think AF/KL and GOL do not share your opinion: press release from AF/KL
(referring to streep)

Erwin

But it doesn't says GOL is becoming a Skyteam member.

[ehusmann]

Not yet, no. But if, like Streep says, GOL would be a real low cost carrier and no material for Skyteam, AF/KL wouldn´t have such an agreement with them.
Code sharing and connecting the Frequent Flyer programs to each other gives a clear indication GOL will be a possible Skyteam member in the future. And that is what the topic starter asked. No guarantees, but GOL certainly isn´t ruled out.

Erwin

[MAS017]

Vietnam Airlines effective 2010

[SPL]

Vietnam Airlines, nice! Let them come to EHAM with the 772 or 332/333!


Groeten Martijn

[hmv]

Delta and Air-France/KLM are talking with JAL about cash injections.
So maybe JAL will enter Skyteam?

[Hurricane]

Vietnam Airlines, nice! Let them come to EHAM with the 772 or 332/333!
Groeten Martijn

Via FRA/CDG/DME it is already possible; VN direct to AMS is very unlikely.

Delta and Air-France/KLM are talking with JAL about cash injections.
So maybe JAL will enter Skyteam?

American Airlines also joined in the talkings; When enough money is offered a Skyteam / Oneworld combi might be possible (although it doesn't sounds logical, stranger things happend before).

Adios, H.

[joostvandeelen]

Does anyone know the reason why MAS isn't a full Skyteam partner?
Heard from a friend of mine that AF doesn't want them to join fully, but why is that?

[Boudewijn van Oirschot]

Malaysia Airlines reached an agreement with Air France-KLM to upgrade their codeshare agreements into an alliance in 2006. While there is no timetable for Malaysia Airlines to join SkyTeam, their restructuring plan puts 2009-2010 as the target years.[31] Malaysia Airlines also reached an agreement with Alitalia and China Southern Airlines, SkyTeam members, to start code-sharing in 2007.

We will see how it continues...

[Boudewijn van Oirschot]

AF and China Southern are lobbying at China Eastern Airlines to join Skyteam but China Eastern is also considering joining oneworld due to its codeshare agreements with AA, BA, QA and JL. In June this year China Eastern Airlines was merged with Shanghai Airlines which is still a Star Alliance member. It is still uncertain whether or not Shanghai Airlines will leave Star Alliance.

I am not sure about Kingischer and Jet Airways if it still due. Leo van Wijk published the news about an Indian carrier in de alliance referring to Kingfischer and Jet.

[ehusmann]

I am not sure about Kingischer and Jet Airways if it still due.

It is inevitable that at some point an Indian carrier will become a full member. That market is growing fast and will remain to grow fast (recession or not) and there are simply too many airports in country to serve them all with international flights. But at this point it is too unstable. Both Jet and Kingfisher had aggressive plans and are now in trouble. My guess is that in the coming years we will see a number of airlines coming and going in India. Jet and/or Kingfisher might survive, but they also might go bust easily. I wouldn´t be surprised it Skyteam will wait it out before adding an Indian carrier to the club.

Erwin