“With SkyPriority, we can offer our most loyal passengers an improved travel experience,” says Erik Varwijk, KLM’s managing director. “Travel includes everything from check-in desk to baggage carousel, and we make it all faster and easier. We can offer our SkyTeam customers an even better, more consistent product.”

Travellers can see the SkyPriority mark on their boarding pass and know immediately if they qualify for this special service. From check-in to departure, they can follow the red SkyPriority signs so they can check in, drop off their bags, and board faster and easier. What is more, SkyPriority makes it easier for airport staff to recognise and assist passengers.

SkyTeam is the first airline alliance to offer consistent priority services worldwide, in which all member airlines take part. All SkyTeam airlines have established their implementation dates and introduction periods. Some of the first airports to introduce SkyPriority include Paris Charles de Gaulle (today), Atlanta, Guangzhou, Nairobi, Shanghai, and Taipei.

SkyPriority will align all members to a common and consistent service standard for priority airport services across the alliance. The distinctive SkyPriority branding will help customers clearly find their way and travel faster through the airport. At the same time, it will be easier for airport staff to recognize and assist eligible customers.

Founding SkyTeam member Delta Air Lines created the SkyPriority brand and rolled out the product to its customers in 2010. Due to the success of the project, SkyTeam has adopted the program, making it the first global airline alliance to consistently offer these priority services on a worldwide scale, with all current and future members participating.

SkyPriority services will include:

• Priority check-in areas
• Priority baggage drop-off
• Priority service at airport ticket offices
• Priority service at transfer desks
• Priority lines at security, where available
• Priority boarding
• Priority baggage handling

“SkyPriority is one part of our ongoing effort to improve the customer experience. By increasing consistency at airports, we make travel faster and more convenient for our customers,” said Michael Wisbrun, SkyTeam’s Managing Director. “This is the biggest collective SkyTeam project to date and a prime example of how our members are extensively working together to bring greater benefits to our customers.”

SkyPriority services will be distinctively branded at airports worldwide and the SkyPriority indicator will be displayed on eligible passengers’ boarding passes. The brand concept will be applied to each individual airline’s existing identity, enabling passengers to instantly recognize SkyPriority services at any airport.

Each member airline has its own implementation date and roll-out timeline. Some of the first airports where SkyPriority will be launched are Amsterdam, Atlanta, Guangzhou, Nairobi, Shanghai and Taipei. By early 2013, SkyPriority will be visible at over 1,000 airports. Following this initial roll-out, additional SkyPriority benefits will be introduced in the future.

For more information:

SkyTeam Corporate Communications
T:  +31 (0)20 3333064
E: media@skyteam.com

About SkyTeamSkyTeam is a global airline alliance providing customers from member airlines access to an extensive global network with more destinations, more frequencies and more connectivity. Passengers can earn and redeem Frequent Flyer Miles throughout the SkyTeam network. SkyTeam member airlines offer customers over 490 lounges worldwide. The fifteen members are: Aeroflot, Aeroméxico, Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Kenya Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, TAROM and Vietnam Airlines. SkyTeam offers its 487 million annual customers globally over 14,500 daily flights to 926 destinations in 173 countries.

www.skyteam.com / www.facebook.com/skyteam  / www.youtube.com/user/skyteam