New area of co-operation for airlines
Delta Air Lines and its SkyTeam partner Air France KLM have started offering joint deals to corporate partners in Europe.
The airlines described the move as a "key milestone in the progress of the joint venture" which already sees the two carriers share costs and revenues on their transatlantic services.
Delta and AF-KLM said the deals would "ensure commercial efficiency" between the airlines and their corporate clients.
The joint corporate deals are the latest step in the ever growing co-operation between Delta and AF-KLM.
KLM and Northwest Airlines, now merged with Delta, started a transatlantic joint venture in 1998.
AF, which merged with KLM in 2004, and Delta signed the agreement to share transatlantic costs and revenue in 2008.
Frank Jahangir, Delta's vp sales EMEA, said: "The single contract brings many advantages to customers across the region.
"First, the contract provides a single point of contact, ensuring efficient and consistent contract maintenance and handling for all parties.
"Currently our three carriers operate 710 weekly frequencies on the transatlantic, all of which will be included in this single agreement.
"All carriers will assist the main point of contact, ensuring that our trade partners are provided with specialist expertise and in-depth knowledge of the competitive landscape within all major traffic areas.
"Moreover, all three carriers are now working within the same contracting platform, ensuring consistency for contract performance tracking and measurement across the region."
Mr Jahangir said the next step would be to "integrate the transatlantic operations into a three-party joint venture."
Pierre Descazeaux, Senior VP, Europe and North Africa, Air France and KLM added: "This innovation comes at just the right time, as all airlines are looking to serve their valued customers better and, at the same time, maximize efficiency and global breadth in their business ventures.
"In this way, Air France, Delta and KLM have the competitive edge in the world's biggest air transport market."
www.delta.com www.airfrance.com www.klm.com
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