SkyTeam officials from member airlines speaking at an alliance media briefing in Atlanta yesterday made it clear that strategic planning is proceeding on the clear assumption that KLM, Northwest Airlines and Continental Airlines will be the next members pending regulatory and other hurdles. In fact, a representative of KLM management attended the briefing incognito at the invitation of the current SkyTeam members. Alitalia said it will not object to KLM entering the alliance despite the ugly breakup of their own proposed operational integration in April 2000. “KLM was a good partner back then, so why shouldn't that be the case again,” an Alitalia official said in Atlanta. Alitalia and KLM have agreed to arbitrate damages over the ending of their partnership.
Separately, Delta, Northwest and Continental have requested a decision from the US Dept. of Transportation on their proposed codesharing alliance by Dec. 6.
http://www.atwonline.com/indexfull.cfm?newsid=2305
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