SkyTeam is the world's second-largest global alliance. Full member carriers have 349,000 flights in October, according to the latest OAG data. That's lower than usual due to the suspension of Aeroflot, previously an important player, and the aftereffects of coronavirus, especially in Asia.
SkyTeam is 29% smaller by flights than Star Alliance (489,000) and 4% larger than oneworld (336,000). This month, SkyTeam members operate one in every eight services globally.
SkyTeam: October summarized
Delta is, of course, the largest SkyTeam carrier (just as American is for oneworld and United is for Star Alliance). Completing SkyTeam's top five carriers are China Eastern, Air France, Xiamen Airlines, and KLM. Virgin Atlantic will join next year, although it'll be one of the smaller members.
The importance of the USA and China is clear to see. Indeed, OAG shows that the two countries are responsible for nearly 250,000 SkyTeam flights – more than seven in every ten. Their enormous domestic markets primarily drive it. Then there's France, Mexico, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Netherlands, Italy, Argentina, and Spain.
In terms of airports, Atlanta, the world's busiest, has more SkyTeam flights than any other, along with some 195 SkyTeam routes. It's followed by Amsterdam, Minneapolis, Paris CDG, Detroit, Salt Lake City, New York LaGuardia, Mexico City, New York JFK, and – the only Chinese airport in the top ten – Kunming.
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Amsterdam is number one
The following table shows the airports with at least 10 SkyTeam member carriers in October. With 14 members, Amsterdam has the most, although unless things change, it'll be joint first with London Heathrow once Virgin Atlantic completes its entry.
Some in the table, such as JFK and Heathrow, rank highly because they're 'global airports'; they have no difficulty attracting airlines irrespective of alliance. The 13 SkyTeam airlines serving Heathrow have 'only' 6% of its services. After all, the airport is not only a global airport but also a critical oneworld facility.
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Airports with the most SkyTeam airlines
Rank |
Airport |
Number of SkyTeam airlines in October |
List of passenger airlines |
---|---|---|---|
1 |
Amsterdam |
14 |
Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Delta, Garuda Indonesia, ITA, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Saudia, TAROM, Xiamen Airlines |
2= |
London Heathrow |
13 |
Aeromexico, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Delta, ITA, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines |
2= |
Paris CDG |
13 |
Aeromexico, Air France, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, Delta, ITA, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines |
3= |
Frankfurt |
12 |
Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Delta, ITA, KLM, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines |
3= |
New York JFK |
12 |
Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Delta, ITA, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Saudia |
4= |
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi |
10 |
Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Saudia, Vietnam Airlines, Xiamen Airlines |
4= |
Madrid |
10 |
Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, Delta, ITA, KLM, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, TAROM |
4= |
Rome Fiumicino |
10 |
Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Europa, Air France, Delta, ITA, KLM, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, TAROM |
4= |
Seoul Incheon |
10 |
Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Delta, Garuda Indonesia, KLM, Korean Air, Saudia, Vietnam Airlines, Xiamen Airlines |
Just three of the top airports
Notice that just three of SkyTeam's ten busiest airports are on the table. Indeed, while the likes of Atlanta, Minneapolis, Detroit, and Salt Lake City have so many flights, that is obviously because of Delta – not from a myriad of alliance carriers. For now, Atlanta, for example, is served by just four: Delta, Air France, KLM, and Korean Air.
What are your views about SkyTeam? Let us know in the comments.