SkyTeam Turns 25!

The SkyTeam alliance, which was founded on June 22, 2000, by Aeromexico, Air France, Delta Air Lines, and Korean Air, turns 25 today!

SkyTeam is the youngest of the three worldwide alliances, as Star Alliance was founded in 1997 and Oneworld in 1999.

You can access SkyTeam here.

SkyTeam’s Current Members:

SkyTeam currently has 18 member airlines, and Aeroflot’s membership has been suspended due to Russia’s war with Ukraine.

Brief History of SkyTeam

2000

Aeromexico, Air France, Delta Air Lines, and Korean Air founded SkyTeam on June 22.

2001

Czech Airlines becomes an alliance member (exits in 2024), and so does Alitalia (exits in 2021)

2004

Both KLM and Continental Airlines joined SkyTeam (and Continental exited in 2009 and later merged with United Airlines and became part of the Star Alliance).

Northwest Airlines also joined the alliance and exited in 2010 when it was folded into Delta

2006

Aeroflot joins the alliance (membership has been suspended from 2022)

2007

Air Europa and Kenya Airways become members, as does China Southern (leaves the alliance in 2018)

2010

Vietnam Airlines and TAROM join the alliance.

2011

Both China Eastern and China Airlines (from different China’s) became part of the alliance.

2012

Saudia, Aerolineas Argentinas, XiamenAir, and MEA (Middle East Airlines) all join.

2014

Garuda Indonesia becomes the latest member.

2021

ITA Airways joins the alliance (and exits in 2025)

2023

Virgin Atlantic joins the alliance.

2024

SAS joins SkyTeam after exiting Star Alliance the previous day.

Copa was also an associate of SkyTeam between 2007 and 2009, but is now part of Star Alliance.

Conclusion

We wish the very best for SkyTeam and look forward to the next 25 years!

There hasn’t been much development on these alliances for the past few years beyond alliance switches, although Virgin Atlantic’s joining in 2023 was something refreshing.

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