SkyTeam Unveils New Alliance Facility at London Heathrow Airport

Wed Oct 28, 2009 8:05am EDT
 
[-] Text [+]
London and Barcelona Latest Additions to Alliance's Co-location Network



LONDON, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Today SkyTeam, the global airline alliance,
unveiled its spacious, customer-focused facility at Terminal 4 at London
Heathrow airport. The new facility includes an exclusive premium check-in area
for first and business class passengers, premium economy passengers, as well
as SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus passengers. Also unveiled today was the second
level of the SkyTeam co-branded lounge. When the check-in area and second
level of the lounge open to passengers on November 5 and November 9,
respectively, the combined amenities will offer an enhanced experience for
customers traveling through London Heathrow. SkyTeam is the first airline
alliance to unveil a permanent, common facility in one terminal at London
Heathrow. 

"This is the first time member airlines have worked together from start to
finish to create a consolidated facility truly centered around the alliance
and our passengers," said Marie-Joseph Male, managing director, SkyTeam.
"Shared spaces like Heathrow demonstrate how, through collaboration, alliances
can deliver added value to customers while realizing efficiencies for
members." 

Landside Space Designed for Flow

The common alliance facility at Terminal 4 was designed to invoke movement
through a modern look inspired by the SkyTeam brand. For the first time, all
SkyTeam co-located members will share airport services, including check-in
desks, self-service kiosks, and bag drop off locations. 

The premium check-in area, the first to be SkyTeam branded, will offer first
and business class passengers as well as SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus
passengers 14 check-in desks and 10 common-use, self-service kiosks. By early
2010, passengers will be able to access travel reservations with any of the
eight SkyTeam carriers serving London Heathrow at kiosks in the premium zone
and throughout the terminal. 

Airside Lounge a First For Alliance

Once airside, first and business class passengers and SkyTeam Elite Plus
passengers will enjoy access to the SkyTeam branded lounge, designed by
Brandimage - Desgrippes & Laga. Services on the second level of the lounge
will include: a quiet room with day beds; two VIP rooms; and a separate
children's area with games and television. The first floor, which opened in
June, offers a variety of amenities including wine bar, oxygen bar and
full-body massage chairs. 

An enhanced presence at London Heathrow will augment SkyTeam's already
superior global hub network.  At London Heathrow, passengers can take
advantage of several nonstop service options to SkyTeam's hubs, such as
Amsterdam, Atlanta, Milan, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Paris, Prague, Rome and
Seoul. During the upcoming winter season, SkyTeam will operate 42 daily
flights from Heathrow to several alliance hubs and key international
destinations. 

Currently, Delta, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Kenya Airways are operating out
of Terminal 4.  The remaining SkyTeam carriers at Heathrow (Aeroflot, Air
France, Alitalia, Czech Airlines and Korean Air) move to Terminal 4 in
November. 

SkyTeam Moves to Terminal 1 at Barcelona 

Also this week, SkyTeam opened a shared facility at the new, state-of-the-art
Terminal 1 at Barcelona Airport. The eight SkyTeam airlines serving Barcelona
(Aeromexico, Aeroflot, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, Czech Airlines, Delta
Air Lines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines) began operating out of the new
terminal on October 25. This move provides member airlines quicker access to
the runway and decreases taxiing time by approximately ten minutes. With
shorter taxi times, carriers require less fuel, which not only saves on costs
but also contributes to a friendlier environment. 

Shared airport facilities, similar to those at London Heathrow and Barcelona,
are an essential part of SkyTeam's overall strategy.  SkyTeam continues to
evaluate similar investments other airports around the globe. 

About SkyTeam

SkyTeam is the global airline alliance partnering nine members, Aeroflot,
Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, China Southern, Czech Airlines, Delta Air
Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Korean Air, and two Associate Airlines:
Air Europa, and Kenya Airways.  SkyTeam offers its 384 million annual
passengers a worldwide system of more than 13,133 daily flights covering 856
destinations in 169 countries.(1)  www.skyteam.com.

(1) Figures for the nine SkyTeam members and two Associate Airlines as of June
2009 schedules




SOURCE  SkyTeam

SkyTeam Communications, +1-646-935-3924 (in the U.S.)

 

Featured Broker sponsored link

Editor's Choice

A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours.  Slideshow 

Most Popular on Reuters

  • Articles
  • Video