Air France's Reaction: Agreement Between Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines And Continental Airlines
PARIS, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Air France has warmly welcomed the news of
an agreement between Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and Continental
Airlines. This agreement was the result of talks of which Delta, fellow
founder member of the SkyTeam Alliance, kept Air France regularly informed.
This marketing agreement arose from to the necessity of American carriers
having to react to the very serious consequences of the September 11 terrorist
attacks, both by rationalizing their operations and by offering consumers
improvements in terms of destinations, schedules, frequencies and conditions
of transport.
The carriers signing the agreement underlined that it would initially
concern the North American domestic market before being expanded to encompass
intercontinental routes. Within this framework and once talks with partner
airlines -- particularly in Europe -- of Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines
and Continental have been held, the agreement could lead to an expansion of
the SkyTeam global alliance, which was set up in June 2000 and today includes
AeroMexico, Air France, Alitalia, CSA, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air. This is
good news indeed for Air France since SkyTeam would then become the world's
leading alliance with all the benefits this will bring to its international
consumers.
In similar fashion to the way in which air transport has evolved in the
United States, an evolution of this sector is inevitable in Europe due to the
existence of a single economic and monetary market. It will lead to the
formation of two or three major clusters based around the main European Union
carriers with commitments in worldwide alliances alongside American, Asian and
African partners.
Air France has not only the vocation but also the determination to
actively participate in this process, by pooling with European airlines which
want to cooperate in the building of such a cluster: it is towards this goal
that partnerships have been concluded with Alitalia and CSA. Moreover, Air
France has engaged talks on various subjects with other European airlines
including KLM, a first rate carrier reputed for its professionalism and proven
performance. Air France's partners in the SkyTeam Alliance have been kept
informed. Talks between Air France and KLM are continuing and will take into
account the agreement which has just been concluded in the US between KLM's
partners (Northwest, Continental) and Air France's partner Delta.
Roger
EWROPS