Nine SkyTeam airlines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with British Airport Authority to co-locate their facilities in Terminal 4 at London Heathrow.The deal will provide easier connections and more convenience to the nearly 3.5 million SkyTeam passengers who travel through LHR each year.

According to the agreement, by 2008 carriers with existing LHR service, including Aeroflot, Air France, Alitalia, Czech Airlines and Korean Air, will join KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which currently serves its passengers in this terminal. Other carriers - Aeroméxico, Delta Air Lines, and Northwest Airlines - will have the option to operate in this terminal should they serve LHR in the future.

As a result of this co-location, SkyTeam customers traveling through LHR will have access to several service enhancements. Current plans call for 32 check-in desks, additional bag drop-off locations, lounge facilities and room to add kiosks for self-service check-in.

“Our co-location strategy in major international hubs allows SkyTeam to provide faster connections for passengers around the world,” said Giorgio Callegari, leader of the SkyTeam airport infrastructure project and vice president, alliances and business development at Alitalia. “This MOU marks an important milestone for SkyTeam because LHR is a major point of convergence for global travelers.”

SkyTeam already has co-locations in several major destinations and hubs around the world, including: Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Beijing, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Geneva, Istanbul, Lagos, Manchester, Mexico City, Munich, Milan-Malpensa, Moscow-Sheremetyevo, Paris-CDG2, Prague, Rome, Stuttgart, Tunis, Venice and Vienna.
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