Vietnam Airlines to join Skyteam
 

Vietnam Airlines received government permission to move forward with the purchase of 10 A321-200s for delivery in the 2011-14 period and to join the SkyTeam alliance, according to press reports from Vietnam.

http://www.atwonline.com/news/other....=4%2F15%2F2009


he agreement outlines Vietnam Airlines’ intentions to undertake exclusive discussions to become a part of SkyTeam during the year 2010, pending fulfillment of the alliance’s membership requirements. The signing ceremony took place in Hanoi, Vietnam, and was attended by Mr. Ho Nghia Dung – Vietnam’s Minister of Transport, senior officials of the government and ministries of Vietnam, as well as leaders of Vietnam Airlines and of SkyTeam.

http://www.vietnamairlines.com/wps/p...team_agreement

... as has already been mentioned in this thread :p

Since this seems to be more of an official announcement than we had before, I think its perfectly appropriate to break it out into its own thread.

If this eventuates, Garuda joins as planned and eventually Malaysian does as well, SkyTeam's coverage of South East Asia would start to look pretty impressive.

With Vietnam Airlines (and, possibly, some day, Malaysian) joining Skyteam, what about Bangkok Airways? Would they be affected by either or both of these joining Skyteam? Would it make them more likely to look at OW?

Garuda seems to have a very poor safety record.

Yeah, this is not good airlines at all. It was very poor management. I don't think GA will not able considered to entry into Skyteam. Because it was absolutely is very terrible on the job training. I think its should need to be improving better safety performance.

Bangkok Airways is poised to enter SkyTeam as an associate member, not as a full member. Malaysia Airlines is supposed to join, but we have no idea what happened. I was informed though in another forum that alliance membership is not a priority for Idris Jala, and I read in A.Net (I think) that AF is opposed to the idea. Garuda Indonesia has not made any noise yet despite getting Korean Air to help them.

Vietnam Airlines would make a good SkyTeam partner, although its entry, I hope, will not reduce the chances of the other airlines. I'm still rooting for Philippine Airlines, even if no airline (hopefully VN though) has extended the invitation yet.