SkyTeam plan 'major' Heathrow slot trade
The airlines group SkyTeam is planning a major slot trade to allow its three US members to launch services from Heathrow Airport when the EU - US open skies accord comes into effect next spring, Airline Business magazine reports. Newly appointed SkyTeam chairman Leo van Wijk, who will step down in next week as KLM's chief executive and assume the role of SkyTeam's first permanent chairman, says the alliance approved plans at a Vancouver board meeting in early June to make Heathrow Terminal 4 a 'SkyTeam showcase'.
SkyTeam members agreed last year to CO-locate at Terminal 4 when BA moves most of its Terminal 4 operation to Terminal 5 next March. Mr Van Wijk said that KLM and Air France are now negotiating a slot trade with SkyTeam partners Continental, Delta and Northwest Airlines, which will give them the early morning arrival and lunchtime departure slots to launch services to Terminal 4, ideal for US routes. This will 'increase member airline representation' at the world's busiest international airport, he said.
Mr Van Wijk told the magazine that KLM will reduce its Heathrow - Holland services, possibly dropping its Heathrow - Eindhoven turboprop route, to make room for the launch of Detroit - Heathrow and Minneapolis - Heathrow services by transatlantic joint venture partner Northwest. He said: 'when you compare the profitability of that [Eindhoven] to a transatlantic operation, it's a no-brainer'.
He added that Air France is willing to make room for Delta's planned Atlanta and New York services by reducing its Heathrow - Paris Charles de Gaulle route, which is suffering from increased competition from high-speed train operator Eurostar. Mr Van Wijk also said that Air France and KLM have agreed to transfer slots to Continental, which is looking to launch a Houston - Heathrow service (that would compete with BA's Houston flights, which will transfer to Heathrow next March it announced yesterday).</u>
'Multiple schemes' will be used to carry out the slot transfers, he said, adding: 'We won't give away slots but need to ensure we get a reasonable return or share in the profit.'
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