Aeroflot to join Skyteam
May 18, 2004, 9:22 am
#1
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Aeroflot to join Skyteam
Air France expects Russia's Aeroflot to announce plans to enter its SkyTeam alliance, Air France Chairman Jean-Cyril Spinetta told a news conference.
"We will sign a document on that with the Air France people in Moscow early next week," an Aeroflot spokeswoman in Moscow said, confirming the plans.
The state-controlled carrier's accession to the prestigious SkyTeam alliance is expected to help Aeroflot cut costs and offer its customers more convenient links to additional destinations.
Aeroflot stock has nearly doubled in value since late 2003.
Spinetta, speaking in Paris, said he would travel to Moscow next week for the announcement.
The SkyTeam alliance includes U.S. airline Delta and Italy's Alitalia, among other airlines.
Aeroflot has long benefited from a cost-cutting programme, which has helped it recover from a post-Soviet slump and expand on foreign markets.
The company has added foreign-made aircraft to expand its fleet to more than 100 planes.
Its nine-month 2003 net profit rose by 29 percent to $90 million, based on International Accounting Standards
"We will sign a document on that with the Air France people in Moscow early next week," an Aeroflot spokeswoman in Moscow said, confirming the plans.
The state-controlled carrier's accession to the prestigious SkyTeam alliance is expected to help Aeroflot cut costs and offer its customers more convenient links to additional destinations.
Aeroflot stock has nearly doubled in value since late 2003.
Spinetta, speaking in Paris, said he would travel to Moscow next week for the announcement.
The SkyTeam alliance includes U.S. airline Delta and Italy's Alitalia, among other airlines.
Aeroflot has long benefited from a cost-cutting programme, which has helped it recover from a post-Soviet slump and expand on foreign markets.
The company has added foreign-made aircraft to expand its fleet to more than 100 planes.
Its nine-month 2003 net profit rose by 29 percent to $90 million, based on International Accounting Standards
May 19, 2004, 12:45 am
#2
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Spinetta be there next Monday, 24-May.
It is reported that Aeroflot prefers SkyTeam and already decided to join SkyTeam. The government though put pressure to Aeroflot to make them join StarAlliance.
It is reported that Aeroflot prefers SkyTeam and already decided to join SkyTeam. The government though put pressure to Aeroflot to make them join StarAlliance.
May 21, 2004, 6:36 am
#3
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Lifted without permission from the pravda.ru website:
Aeroflot joins SkyTeam alliance
16:15 2004-05-21
Aeroflot is going to join the SkyTeam international alliance founded by Air France and Delta Airlines (USA) in 2000.
The official agreement on the accession to the alliance was achieved on Monday, May 24, an Aeroflot spokesperson said.
"The accession to the alliance implies the unification of sales, booking and route systems," she added.
The SkyTeam alliance includes AeroMexico, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Korean Air (South Korea) and KLM (Netherlands).
SkyTeam offers about 8,200 daily flights to 512 destinations all over the world. The alliance handles 228 million passengers annually.
Russian passengers are expected to gain by Aeroflot's joining the SkyTeam alliance. Now the main Russian carrier has to meet international security and service standards. On the other hand, Aeroflot will have to raise ticket prices by $30-$40 for the same reasons.
Aeroflot joins SkyTeam alliance
16:15 2004-05-21
Aeroflot is going to join the SkyTeam international alliance founded by Air France and Delta Airlines (USA) in 2000.
The official agreement on the accession to the alliance was achieved on Monday, May 24, an Aeroflot spokesperson said.
"The accession to the alliance implies the unification of sales, booking and route systems," she added.
The SkyTeam alliance includes AeroMexico, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Korean Air (South Korea) and KLM (Netherlands).
SkyTeam offers about 8,200 daily flights to 512 destinations all over the world. The alliance handles 228 million passengers annually.
Russian passengers are expected to gain by Aeroflot's joining the SkyTeam alliance. Now the main Russian carrier has to meet international security and service standards. On the other hand, Aeroflot will have to raise ticket prices by $30-$40 for the same reasons.
May 21, 2004, 8:10 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2003
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So does this mean once NW joins Skyteam we'll be able to earn WP miles flying Aeroflot? If so, I wish they'd hurry up and get the deal done and details announced (both NW finalizing things so we can earn WP miles on Skyteam, and Aeroflot joining Skyteam). I've got a trip to Moscow to book (originating London) in early September and flying on KLM through Amsterdam will run me $1500, per the nwa.com website, whereas non-stop London Moscow on Aeroflot is about $350!
May 21, 2004, 8:42 am
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Yes, it will mean that, but entry is planned for mid-September 2004, which would be too late for you.
However, $1150 extra for approx 3650 base miles (about 7300 with a 100% elite bonus): do you really think it is worth it?
$1500 sounds a lot for LON-MOW on KL. Presumably this is either a full fare economy (S class on KL) or a discount 'business' class (Z fare)?
Also, you are presumably aware that 'business' on intra-European on KL does not really mean business, but glorified economy ('Europe Select' product)?
BA also has some good fares, starting at around $300 in economy and these are (direct) flights into the handier Domodedovo airport, rather than SVO.
However, $1150 extra for approx 3650 base miles (about 7300 with a 100% elite bonus): do you really think it is worth it?
$1500 sounds a lot for LON-MOW on KL. Presumably this is either a full fare economy (S class on KL) or a discount 'business' class (Z fare)?
Also, you are presumably aware that 'business' on intra-European on KL does not really mean business, but glorified economy ('Europe Select' product)?
BA also has some good fares, starting at around $300 in economy and these are (direct) flights into the handier Domodedovo airport, rather than SVO.
May 24, 2004, 12:18 pm
#7
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SkyTeam Signs MOU with Aeroflot
From AF's corporate website today:
SkyTeam today announced that the alliance has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Aeroflot. The MOU is a preliminary step in the new member process and outlines Aeroflot's intentions to undertake exclusive discussions to become a part of SkyTeam, pending fulfillment of the alliance's joining requirements. The signing ceremony, which took place at the Kremlin, was attended by Valery Okulov, president of Aeroflot, Jean-Cyril Spinetta, chairman and CEO of Air France KLM, who served as a representative of SkyTeam, Leo Van Wijk, president and CEO of KLM and representatives of SkyTeam member airlines.