AviationGeeks.com - Aeroflot Joins SkyTeam Cargo

Aeroflot Russian Airlines has completed preparations for joining the global airline alliance SkyTeam Cargo. The announcement was made today by Oleg Korolev, Cargo Director, during a joining ceremony which was held at the Air Cargo Europe in Munich, Germany. Aeroflot is the ninth airline to join the global air cargo alliance.

"Aeroflot has been an important member of SkyTeam's passenger alliance for many years and we welcome its decision to join the cargo part of the alliance, extending the strategic growth and network cooperation opportunities SkyTeam offers to our customers," said Neel Shah, SkyTeam Cargo Executive Board member and senior vice president and Chief Cargo Officer for Delta Air Lines.

Aeroflot's prime position in the Russian market, and central hub connecting Europe to the Middle East and Asia, will allow SkyTeam Cargo to benefit from growing world air cargo traffic demands," said Mr. Korolev of Aeroflot.

Membership with the alliance will allow Aeroflot to:

·         Harmonize its cargo product portfolio with cargo products and services of the other alliance members,

·         Gain access to premium ground handling facilities at 35 major cargo terminals worldwide,

·         Expand its own cargo network by interlining cargo delivery with the other members of the alliance,

·         Cut operating costs through joint purchases of services with other partners and the use of E-freight technologies, as well as

·         Strengthen positions of the Aeroflot brand on the global cargo market.

Soon after joining SkyTeam Cargo Aeroflot will launch four new cargo products – Dimension (general cargo), Variation (specialty cargo), Cohesion (Just-In-Time cargo) and Equation (express cargo) – and harmonize cargo carriage and handling practises with the SkyTeam Cargo standards which are mandatory for all other alliance members.

Source: SkyTeam