Sky Team announced that on April 14, 2006 Aeroflot officially became the tenth member of the alliance, and its passengers, whose routes run around the world, get enhanced opportunities to use the network of routes in Russia. Sky Team is the first global airline alliance to take the Russian carrier into its ranks.
With the entry of Aeroflot, the Sky Team alliance will carry 343.6 million passengers annually, carrying out more than 15 thousand flights to 728 points of 149 countries every day. The official ceremony of Aeroflot’s entry into the alliance, which was attended by the heads of airlines - members of the alliance and members of the Russian government, was held in Moscow.
Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Air France, said that Sky Team’s expansion strategy is simple: the alliance is designed to provide the routes that our customers demand most.
“With the acceptance of Aeroflot into the alliance, our route network now covers new markets in Russia, the CIS and Eastern Europe, which are ready for even greater demand for passenger traffic. Using the resources of the Sheremetyevo International Airport and, in particular, with the opening of Aeroflot’s own terminal "Sheremetyevo-3 over the next two years, the Sky Team alliance will literally bring the world together through a network of transport centers that unite the globe and offer our passengers the greatest opportunities and convenient connections to points Europe, Asia and the whole world, ”said Spinetta.
Aeroflot, the largest air carrier in Russia and the CIS countries, has made significant progress over the past 5 years, which allowed the airline to match the most successful airlines in the world in terms of service quality and flight safety. In October 2005, Aeroflot passed an international operational safety audit (IOSA - IATA Operational Safety Audit), confirming its high level of standards in the field of flight operations. Also in 2005, Aeroflot OJSC received an award from SkyTrax, a leading research agency in the global airline industry, for “Improving On-Board Service”.
Aeroflot’s entry into the alliance strengthens Sky Team’s access to key tourism markets in the East and includes Moscow in the alliance’s expanded network of transportation hubs.
Valery Okulov, Aeroflot’s CEO, said that membership in the Sky Team alliance will contribute to Aeroflot’s growth, operational efficiency and better customer service.
“We expect,” Okulov emphasized, “to increase the level of service for our passengers through their access to the wide Sky Team alliance network, providing more convenient connections and the ability to accumulate more bonus miles under the frequent flyer reward program."
Aeroflot passengers will be able to earn and redeem miles as part of the frequent flyer program of airlines - members of the Sky Team alliance. In turn, Sky Team alliance passengers, predominantly flying on Aeroflot routes, will be able to earn miles in their preferred frequent flyer program.
Aeroflot, which has seen steady growth in passenger traffic and profit over the past few years, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Sky Team alliance back in May 2004. During this time, the airline has made significant improvements in the field of flight operations and passenger service to meet the stringent requirements for joining one of the world's leading airline alliances. The Russian airline raised the level of quality of service for customers along the entire route network, including on-board services, and agreed its flight standards with those used by the Sky Team alliance. Aeroflot also entered into bilateral agreements with all nine airlines - current members of the Sky Team alliance. As part of its fleet restructuring program, Aeroflot has already commissioned 18 Airbus A320 family aircraft and will purchase an additional 12 of these aircraft during 2006-2007, while receiving support from both the aviation community and investors for this key improvement.
By November 2007, Aeroflot will complete the construction of its own passenger terminal at Sheremetyevo Airport, which will greatly improve the ground handling of both Aeroflot passengers and Sky Team alliance partners.
In the future, the airline plans to introduce an electronic ticket sales system that will not only allow the company to achieve cost savings, but also increase the level of passenger service. Hot news!
Valery Okulov headed the Russian-Emirate Business Council (REDS)
In April 2006, at the organizational meeting of the Russian part of the Russian-Emirate Business Council (REDS) at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation (RF CCI), Valery Okulov, Director General of Aeroflot-Russian Airlines, was elected co-chair of the RED on the Russian side.
The Council is not a legal entity. It operates on a voluntary basis and unites Russian companies and organizations. The activities of the REDS are aimed at developing and strengthening business ties between Russian and UAE entrepreneurs interested in cooperation in the commercial, industrial, financial and scientific-technical fields.
The Russian-Emirate Business Council was created on the initiative of the Russian-Arab Business Council (RADS) and the RF CCI.
Introducing Valery Okulov to the participants in the Council meeting, Vladimir Evtushenkov, co-chairman of the RADC, noted: “In this case, the candidacy of Aeroflot’s director general is in the top ten. And not only because air travel and tourism are today the most dynamically developing areas of economic cooperation between Russia and the UAE , but also because Valery Okulov has established himself as an experienced and professional leader who can establish good business and human relations with his emirate colleagues tions. "
About Sky Team Alliance
Sky Team is a global aviation alliance with ten airlines as partners, including Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, Continental Airlines, CSA - Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines, KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines. Through the world's largest port network, the Sky Team alliance annually offers 373 million passengers a global route network with approximately 15,000 daily flights, 728 points worldwide in more than 149 countries. In 2005, readers of Global Traveler magazine recognized SkyTeam as "the best aviation alliance." Visit the alliance website at: www.skyteam.com
About Aeroflot
Aeroflot Russian Airlines is based in Moscow, at Sheremetyevo Airport. Created in 1923. The largest carrier on international and domestic routes, which accounts for 39% of the international and 11% of the domestic air transportation market of the Russian Federation. In 2005, the company transported 6.8 million passengers to 89 cities in 47 countries. Aeroflot operates 302 flights per day. The park consists of 83 aircraft.
