SKYTEAM is planning to introduce an associate airline programme that would expand customer benefits to additional regions of the world. Announcing the plan in London, the global alliance steering committee said that the plan was to open associate SkyTeam membership to carriers that extend the alliance's network reach once they meet specific operational and service standards. The concept could be ready by late spring, with first associate members joining in 2004. The associate programme would allow the carriers specific use of the SkyTeam brand in their geographic region without the full cost of SkyTeam membership. SkyTeam is the global airline alliance of Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air. Meeting outside a member country for the first time the media brief was conducted by (from left to right) Patrick Bianquis (VP Alliances Air France), Alejandro C. Yberri III (VP Marketing Aeromexico) Giorgio Callegari (VP Alliances Alitalia), Vaclav Kral (VP Marketing CS) Paul Matsen (VP International Delta), and John Hee Lee(VP Passenger Business Korean Air). The editor sits in the front row of the press.
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