Air France-KLM may share Heathrow slots with Skyteam partners Delta, Northwest |
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Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:02
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PARIS (Thomson Financial) - Air France-KLM is considering sharing flight slots at London's Heathrow airport with Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines, as part of an strengthening of its ties with the US carriers which are among Air France-KLM's partners in the Skyteam commercial alliance.In an internal newsletter obtained by Agence France-Presse, Dominique Patry, Air France's international director, said the French airline will reduce its Paris-Heathrow slots from the summer of next year in view of reduced journey time for the Eurostar train, and plans to use these slots for transatlantic flights.Air France could operate these slots itself, offer them to Delta or do a combination of the two, Patry said.He added that Dutch sister company KLM may give some of its Heathrow slots to Northwest.The internal newsletter states that the next step will be for the partners to strengthen the Skyteam alliance by reapplying for permission from the antitrust authorities the US to harmonise fares without violating competition law.If this approval is granted, 'we could envisage a strengthening of ties going as far as a transatlantic joint venture between Air France, KLM, Delta and Northwest,' the newsletter added.Air France-KLM recently denied a report in daily La Tribune it may acquire minority stakes in Delta and Northwest.tfn.paris@thomson.comafp/gt/jfrCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.
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