Today Aeroflot-Russian Airlines Director General Valery Okulov and Air France President Jean-Cyril Spinetta acting on behalf of the airline companies- Sky Team global alliance participants - Aeromexico, Air France, AlItalia, CSA – Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines, Korean Air, - signed an agreement on starting negotiations on the procedure of the national Russian air carrier joining the alliance in 2005.

During the ceremony of signing Valery Okulov said, “The opportunity of Aeroflot joining one of the three world largest air alliances opens new perspectives for our company. Alliances are the future of the world air carriages. Aeroflot can’t stay away of this tendency and we are glad we are not a long way from this day when our company is to be a member of a good team - Sky Team – the leading aviation alliance”.

Speaking on the ceremony of signing in Kremlin Air France President Jean-Cyril Spinetta said, “Two years ago we spoke about our readiness to start negotiations on Aeroflot entering the alliance. Today taking into account positive changes Aeroflot has we can say that the time has come at last. I’m sure the negotiations we start today will be successful.”

Aeroflot worked hard lately to improve the airline company’s service quality and operation points according to international standards. They develop active cooperation with leading international air carriers including Sky Team members.

Bilateral relations between Aeroflot and Air France dynamically developed for many years. In 1997 there was signed an agreement on strategic partnership, in 2001 Aeroflot had a proposal on joining the global alliance of air carriers Sky Team which leading participant Air France was. As the first step on the way to develop cooperation Aeroflot and Air France made code-sharing agreement in 2002 for flights of both companies between Paris and Moscow. Since the mid of July, 2004, both airline companies are going to expand this bilateral agreement and to start joint flights between Moscow and Nice by Aeroflot planes. They are also planning later to start joint flights to some destinations in France through Paris and some destinations in Russia through Moscow.

Besides Aeroflot has positive experience of cooperation within code-sharing agreement with CSA – Czech Airlines, and other Sky Team Alliance members – such airline companies as AlItalia, Delta Airlines, Korean Air.

As the future alliance member Aeroflot is to propose Sky Team passengers modernized air fleet, a wide range of routes in Russia and border countries. Airline companies - Sky Team members announce on the priority of using Aeroflot routes in Russia.

At the same time joining the global alliance of air carriers can provide Aeroflot with such opportunities as

• Providing Russian citizens with a wide choice to move all over the world by flights of Aeroflot and its alliance partners with high service quality;
• Increasing Aeroflot competitiveness on the world market of air carriages;
• Using unified program of bonuses for frequently flying passengers, common waiting rooms for high class passengers;
• Increasing air carriages and the airline company profit.

Aeroflot-Russian Airlines (RTS: AFLT) is the largest Russian Company. The state owns 51 per cent of its stocks. It was established in 1923. It controls 11 per cent of home and 39 per cent of international market of air carriages of Russia. According to RAP net income amounted to 3 978 million rubles in 2003. In 2003 Aeroflot transported 5.9 million passengers. There are 92 airliners in its fleet. Its headquarter is located in Moscow in Sheremetyevo Airport. It is going to build its own terminal Sheremetyevo-3 by 2007. Apply for detailed information about the airline company on its web-sites www.aeroflot.ru, www.aeroflotbonus.ru.

Sky Team Alliance was established in June 2000. Every year planes of airline companies-its members transport 212 million passengers making 7865 flights a day to 500 destinations of 110 countries of the world. Apply for detailed information about Sky Team on www.skyteam.com.

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