SkyTeam named 2007 Best Airline Alliance

Today SkyTeam was officially named the Best Airline Alliance Program by Business Traveler magazine’s “2007 Readers’ Choice Best in Business Travel Survey.” Business Traveler readers recognized SkyTeam for the alliance’s reliability, high-quality service and extensive network.

SkyTeam is the global airline alliance partnering eleven members and three Associate Airlines.

“We are honored to receive this recognition,” said Leo van Wijk, Chairman of the SkyTeam Governing Board. “This award is a testament to SkyTeam’s continued commitment to providing our customers around the world with premier service, benefits and access to the regions they want to travel to most.”

This year, SkyTeam welcomed the alliance’s 11th full member, China Southern Airlines, and three Associate Airlines – Air Europa (Spain), Copa Airlines (Panama) and Kenya Airways – further strengthening SkyTeam’s global network.

In 2008, SkyTeam looks to expand its global network and explore partnerships with carriers in strategic and high-demand regions, including India and Brazil. The alliance will also continue to focus on its co-location policy at airports, particularly at London Heathrow International Airport.

SkyTeam, along with other award recipients, will be honored at a gala in Los Angeles, California, on January 17, 2008. The results from the Readers’ Choice 2007 Best in Business Travel Survey were revealed in the December/January issue of Business Traveler magazine.

Business Traveler, a leading business travel publication, conducts The Readers' Choice Best in Business Travel Survey annually. The survey covers nearly 50 categories, including “Best Airline Alliance Program”, “Best Overall Airline” and “Best Airline Lounge,” among others. Business Traveler subscribers were selected at random and asked to identify the companies who have made their business travels more enjoyable.

SkyTeam is the global airline alliance partnering eleven members, including Aeroflot, Aeroméxico, Air France, Alitalia, China Southern Airlines, Continental Airlines, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines, and three Associate Airlines: Air Europa (Spain), Copa Airlines (Panama) and Kenya Airways. Through one of the world’s most extensive hub networks, SkyTeam offers its 428 million annual passengers a worldwide system of 16,400 daily flights covering 841 destinations in 162 countries. For more information, visit Skyteam.com.