SkyTeam, the global airline alliance partnering Aeromexico, Air France,
Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air, today said
its members are preparing for potential growth in 2004 with new flight
options. With the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
predicting a seven percent annual growth rate in global passenger traffic
this year, SkyTeam members are strategically adding more long-haul
international flights this summer, further strengthening the alliance’s
global route network. Passengers traveling with SkyTeam will enjoy a
combined total of more than 150 additional flights per week, many
supported by new service launches, and 13 new alliance destinations.
“SkyTeam members are in a good position to serve the expected increase of
travelers this summer. Whether flying for business or pleasure, SkyTeam
passengers will be able to select from additional options designed to
provide greatest convenience,” said Dominique Patry, Air France’s vice
president for international affairs and alliances. “Alliance members are
looking forward to providing even more choices in 2004 as the momentum
continues.”

SkyTeam members are experiencing a momentum that is part of a larger trend
in international travel. Earlier this month, IATA reported international
traffic figures for January, signalling recovery in the Middle East region
and sustained increases in Asia, Africa, North America and Europe. Growth
in these regions is also reflected in SkyTeam members’ expanded summer
schedules.

Added frequency and capacity

This summer, Korean Air will increase its schedule by 40 flights per week
while Air France is preparing for a nine percent increase in capacity with
115 additional frequencies per week. Alitalia anticipates year over year
growth of approximately 15 percent, with additional flights between Rome
and New York- JFK, key hubs in the alliance’s network.

“By adding flights between major hubs, alliance members help passengers
access all destinations within SkyTeam’s extensive network with the least
number of connections,” said Giorgio Callegari, Alitalia’s corporate vice
president alliances.

  New Routes and new destinations Launched by Alliance Member Airlines
  - As of March 28, Air France will offer non-stop round-trip services
    between France and Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh-Ville).
  - Alitalia is also launching several new routes between its Milan and
    Rome hubs and destinations in Asia, Europe and the United States,
    including new service from Rome to Boston and Milan Malpensa to
    Washington, D.C. The airline also intends to start service between
    Milan and New Delhi with six flights per week, pending approval from
    the Indian government.
  - Korean Air is beginning new direct service between Seoul and Prague.
  - In the Atlantic region, Delta Air Lines will offer six new routes to
    destinations in the Caribbean (New York-JFK to Santo Domingo and San
    Juan), Mexico (Cincinnati-Cancun) and Europe (Cincinnati to Amsterdam
    and Rome), as well as nine additional codeshare routes with SkyTeam
    member airlines.
  - Aeromexico’s summer service will include more than ten additional
    weekly flights from Mexico to destinations in the U.S. and South
    America. The airline is also expanding service between Mexico City and
    Madrid to a total of 11 flights per week.

  New destinations

The thirteen new SkyTeam destinations are in multiple regions of the world:

  - Both Guangzhou (China) and Tehran (Iran) are on Air France’s summer
    schedule.
  - In addition, Doha (Qatar), Kuwait City (Kuwait), Malabo (Equatorial
    Guinea), Pointe-Noire (Congo) and Tashkent (Uzbekistan) will be served
    through the new Air France “Dedicate” service, featuring scheduled
    routes and direct flights to some of the more remote parts of the
    world, making life easier for professionals traveling to construction
    projects, production sites and other major areas of economic activity.
  - In Europe, CSA Czech Airlines is planning its largest eastward
    expansion in the airline’s history this summer, including new service
    to: Samara and Ekaterinburg in Russia; Baku, Azerbaijan; Krakow,
    Poland; and Dortmund, Germany.
  - Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines is launching direct service to St. Lucia in
    the Caribbean from its Atlanta hub and to Amsterdam and Rome from its
    Cincinnati hub.

As a benefit to travelers, SkyTeam offers passengers the opportunity to
earn frequent flyer miles when flying any of the six member airlines.
Top-tier frequent flyer members at each of the alliance airlines
automatically attain SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus status, making them
eligible for additional enhanced benefits, including priority waitlist for
reservations at the airport, as well as separate check-in. In addition,
Elite Plus members enjoy guaranteed economy-class reservations, priority
baggage handling and access to more than 300 SkyTeam airport lounges for
international trips, regardless of ticket class. In total, SkyTeam offers
customers access to airport lounges in 338 cities around the globe,
including Incheon, Prague, and Mexico City, as well as joint city ticket
office facilities in 11 cities, including Paris, New York, and Rome.

SkyTeam is the global airline alliance partnering Aeromexico, Air France,
Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air. Through one
of the world’s most extensive hub networks, SkyTeam offers its 212 million
annual passengers a worldwide system of more than 7,600 daily flights
covering all major destinations. Visit SkyTeam on the Web at skyteam.com
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