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SkyTeam Network Celebrates 20th Anniversary with New Sanitary Measures

An Air France 777-300ER on final approach at Washington Dulles. (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Ben Suskind)

SkyTeam, the second-largest, global airline alliance celebrated its 20th anniversary on June 22. The 19 members in the global airline alliance, including the four founders, Delta Air Lines, Air France, Aeromexico and Korean Air, decided to unveil the “SkyCare&Protect” initiative and pledge. All of the airline partners within the alliance are expected to support a series of personal safety measures to help safeguard the passengers and airline employees when they travel onboard.  

Walter Cho, Chairperson of SkyTeam, reaffirms the alliance’s commitment to dedicate its efforts to ensure its core values are expressed to the passengers. 

“20 years ago today, SkyTeam was founded with the promise to care more about our customers. Although the world and our industry have drastically changed in the last six months, initiatives such as SkyCare&Protect are a shining example of the alliance’s commitment to look after customers when they travel across SkyTeam’s network,” Cho said. 

The “SkyCare&Protect” initiative brings together safety and health procedures from each member airline and guidance from health and industry officials. It will also feature suggestions from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). 

Kristen Colvile, CEO and Managing Director of SkyTeam, remarked upon the last two decades and highlighted the core impacts that the SkyCare&Protect pledge will have on the SkyTeam network. 

“As we mark two decades since SkyTeam was established, we want our customers to know that SkyTeam and its member airlines have always made the personal safety of every passenger our number one priority,” Colvile said. “SkyCare&Protect enhances the entire customer journey in light of the COVID-19 pandemic but these measures will evolve, with health, safety and security continuing to form part of the foundations of SkyTeam,” said Colvile.

As many of the airline members begin to rebuild their schedules for flight operations, it is essential for them to adhere to the guidelines for safeguarding the passengers and crew. The “SkyCare&Protect” pledge currently consists of 15 measures, separated into five main categories that plan to enhance personal safety at every step in the journey. 

The SkyTeam network and its 19 members remain committed to creating a safer travel experience for all passengers and crew through these five core ideas: Ready to Fly, Cleaned, Protected, Screened and Informed. Passengers will have the opportunity to complete contactless check-in, receive health screenings and checks, and be notified of the latest travel information and updates. There will also be social distancing between passengers and airline employees as well as the requirement to wear masks onboard flights. 

Benjamin Pham

Author

  • Benjamin Pham

    Benjamin has had a love for aviation since a young age, growing up in Tampa with a strong interest in airplane models and playing with them. When he moved to the Washington, D.C. area, Benjamin took part in aviation photography for a couple of years at Gravelly Point and Dulles Airport, before dedicating planespotting to only when he traveled to the other airports. He is an avid, world traveler, having been able to reach 32 countries, yearning to explore and understand more cultures soon. Currently, Benjamin is an Air Transporation Management student at Arizona State University. He hopes to enter the airline industry to improve the passenger experience and loyalty programs while keeping up to how technology is being integrated into airports.

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