SKYTEAM has confirmed that the alliance has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Russian airline Aeroflot. The MOU is a preliminary step in the new member process and outlines Aeroflot”s intentions to undertake exclusive discussions to become a part of SkyTeam, pending fulfilment of the alliance”s joining requirements which should be completed in 2005. Aeroflot in fact goes back to 1923 and today is still government owned (51%), is profitable, carried 5.1m passengers last year and includes both Airbus and Boeing aircraft in its fleet.
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