An in-depth look at SkyTeam Associate Air Europa (UX).

Q: In the past six months, the three Associates have truly offered SkyTeam passengers greater access. What new routes did Air Europa bring to the SkyTeam network?
A: With our hub in Madrid, Air Europa offers a broad domestic network for its passengers and particularly a strong offering in the Spanish territories, including Las Palmas and Palma Mallorca, two highly-trafficked cities for leisure travelers. Air Europa also serves most cities in Spain, such as Barcelona and Malaga, with several frequencies daily. We have a strong presence in Africa and South America, including direct flights from Spain to Mexico, Argentina, Cuba, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic. When we joined SkyTeam in September 2007, Air Europa brought 10 new destinations to the alliance.

Along with our extensive regional scope, the Air Europa network includes SkyTeam hub destinations in Europe, such as Paris and Prague. We also have an increasing presence in South and Latin America.

Q: How does Air Europa benefit from being an Associate Airline in the SkyTeam alliance?
A: As a result of joining SkyTeam, Air Europa has seen an incremental increase in traffic, particularly with the additional code shares with partner members. The Associate program allows SkyTeam to leverage member airline partnerships across the alliance.

Air Europa, along with the other Associates, gains greater brand recognition through our relationship with SkyTeam. In return, Associate Airlines help extend the SkyTeam brand to key regions of the world, strengthening its name recognition and elevating the alliance’s global presence.

Q: How do Air Europa’s customers benefit from the airline’s status as an Associate carrier with SkyTeam?
A: Air Europa passengers receive all benefits that SkyTeam passengers receive. For example, an Air Europa passenger who is a Flying Blue member earns miles when flying with Korean Air. Elite Air Europa passengers also have access to most SkyTeam airport lounges, which are found in over 440 airports worldwide. Overall, customers of Air Europa enjoy both high quality standard of service and additional SkyTeam benefits.

Air Europa, founded in 1986, is the airline division of the Globalia Corporation. Since 1991, Air Europa has positioned itself as one of Europe’s most modern airlines. Its fleet is comprised of 32 Next Generation Boeing aircraft and a modern Airbus A340. In 2007, Air Europa offered 44 destinations in 15 countries to its 9.2 million passengers. Madrid Barajas Airport is the hub for Air Europa.

SkyTeam Reaches New Heights in Summer 2008
As the summer in the northern hemisphere approaches, SkyTeam is gearing up for another busy season. As with each summer, SkyTeam is expanding its global network with members offering increased frequencies and new flights to popular destinations. With the addition of more than 205 new weekly frequencies, SkyTeam passengers can reach more cities in Asia, Europe and North and South America – including Shanghai, China and Detroit, USA [new services by Aeroméxico], Sao Paolo, Brazil [new service by Korean Air], Shannon, Ireland and Munster, Germany [new services by Air France], Linkoping, Sweden [new service by KLM], Norilsk, Russia [new destination to the SkyTeam network served by Aeroflot], and Novosibirsk, Russia [new service by Aeroflot] – through numerous daily flights.

More Route And Flight Options as a Result of Open Skies
SkyTeam travelers will also have access to more route and flight options as a result of the EU-US “open skies” agreement. The alliance now offers 11 new daily frequencies through eight new nonstop routes – never available before to passengers travelling within the SkyTeam network – between the U.S. and London Heathrow, including:
• Daily service to and from Los Angeles (operated by Air France with Delta codesharing)
• Twice-daily service to Houston (operated by Continental)
• Daily service to Atlanta (operated by Delta with Air France codesharing)
• Service to New York
• Twice-daily service to John F. Kennedy International (JFK), operated by Delta with Air France codesharing
• Twice-daily service to Newark Liberty International (EWR), operated by Continental
• Daily service to Minneapolis, as well as Detroit and Seattle scheduled to begin 1 May and 1 June, respectively (operated by Northwest with KLM codesharing)

Furthermore, the Delta-Air France code share joint venture, which was made official 31 March, will provide passengers with new nonstop trans-Atlantic flights to and from popular European destinations – including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania, Spain and Sweden – along with new Paris (CDG)-Salt Lake City and Lyon-New York (JFK) services. The KLM-Northwest joint venture will also provide passengers with additional trans-Atlantic flights and frequencies, including new Amsterdam-Dallas/Forth Worth (DFW) and Amsterdam-Portland (PDX) services.