KLM joins Sky Team!

That would mean that NW leaves KLM! I don’t believe they would do it, since KLM and NW are very much intertwined (sp?). DL is very close to AF so if any of the American carriers where to leave it would most likely be CO.

Having said that, why would they? The US trade department has already given them the okay. Competitiveness laws should pose no laws except on a few routes.

Originally posted by Hand87_5
No it’s just about KL to join Skyteam …….. so far

But can we assume this will have an affect on Northwest’s and Continental’s decision?

Northwest will still have an alliance with KLM yet will effectively still be competing against Delta and Air France. It seems absurd to have three dominant airlines such as NW/DL and CO in one alliance. Will we Northwest turn to other alliances?

AZ has declared an intention as well, but not time-scale has been given. First the Italian government has to dispose of its shares.

No it’s just about KL to join Skyteam …….. so far

So it’s KL/NW and CO all entering Skyteam now?

Just saw on BBC about this…they said they will announce it tommorow?

KLM and unions are still denying everything in Amstelveen and the French cannot stop to talk about the co-operation. What is the deal? You can already see the beautifull French and Dutch cultures together!

even more from me (last for now since I will be hitting the sack shortly).

* The Dutch NOS news is reporting that the Dutch government will keep its 14% share as had been runoured earlier. No note (yet?) as to whether it is a “veto-share”.

* AF will get about 80%/85% of the shares in the holding company, assuming AZ will not join.

* But those numbers are yet to change as it has been announced by AZ that they will join as well. Therefore a trio will be made with AZ/AF/KL. Can be interesting how KL will respond to AZ as their last cooperation ended quite expensive for KL.

* KLM is still denying there is an agreement.
(but at this time it is probably just the automatic answer phone “nothing has happened, nothing will happen, please leave your message after the beep…“. :D)

* The president of AF, mr. Spineta, will be the president of the new holding. The president of KLM, mr. De Wijk, will be the vice-president of the new holding. No surprises there then.

Sorry, Dutch only.
http://www.omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/index.html#@http://www.omroep.nl/nos/nieuws/financieel/2003/september/290903/klm.htm

The BBC is reporting that the AF/KLM combo will be the largest in the world! Yes larger then AA (their words)!

Bit surprised to hear that the KLM is in financial dificulties, yes they made a loss but they got massive cash-on-hand reserves unlike certain other *cough*French*cough* airlines. Would AF last without government support? KLM would, and has been for many years!

The BBC is also reporting it:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3148748.stm

and in case you are to lazy to read, in a few minutes it will be a topic at the 10:00 news. I am watching the beeb now and it came by as a headline.

BBC
It is thought that under the proposed deal, KLM and Air France would be placed under a common holding company, with Air France shareholders holding 80% of the new firm.

80% of the shares for AF, that seems a bit unfair! Wonder how this percentage was determined? AF starting at 100% and KLM starting at 50% and then negotiating till the middle was reached? 😀 (sorry, should really be :()

quote from airliners.net
According to the french evening news, KL and AF will announce their merger tomorrow morning 07.00 (Central European Time). According to a spokesman, KL will keep it’s rights for 8 years and the airlines will be put in a French Holding. AF topman Spinetta will be the new CEO of this company.

I’ve always said this would happen, the end of KL………sad,sad,sad….

Insightful information: hopefully.
Inside information: NO.

(most of this has been copied from my previous posts in the other thread)
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From the Dutch NOS news!

Officials from the French unions are reporting that there will indeed be a holding of AF/KLM. This will be officially announced at 07:00 tomorrow morning! Of course the big shots at KLM and AF are keeping quiet! Guarantees for both KLM’s and Schiphol’s existence have been made for at least 8 years!
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A new HOLDING company will be formed supposedly to be called KL-France. They will hold all the shares of KLM and AF (And perhaps AZ? No mention of them!).

This holding company will be owned by KLM and AF. The shares will be split up according to size. Although the split-up has not been announced, AF is twice as large as KLM, so by my fuzy math that would meat that KLM gets roughly 33% and AF gets roughly 66%.

______________________

Allegedly the Dutch government is to keep a 14% share including a “golden vote” (effectively a right of veto on important decissions). This has not been confirmed! Having said that, this reminds me of Fokker… oh my god!

______________________

Some things I am wondering:

* Ownership: will KLM still be KLM, or AF-Nord? Can KLM still make important decissions? Also after the 8 years of guarantees.
* Airports: Will AF, being the largest of the two (threeif AZ joins), try to get all long-haul (=profitable) flights at CDG leaving AMS and Malpensa with the undesirable lot? This is a serious fear here!
* Corporate culture: the French are a bunch of strikers whereas the Dutch are a bunch of talkers (taking it very roughly, don’t be insulted please).
* Unions: in France the unions are extremely strong and powerful (see strikes) whereas the Dutch ones are a bit more tempered.
* Fleet: AF and AZ are big users of the A320series. AZ will replace their MD-80s in a few years and will likely get additional Airbusses. Where does that leave KLM/HV with the comparatively small B737NG fleet?
* Livery: Will there be a (special) SKYteam livery like with the STAR alliance?

Believe it or not: it is a fact! Insightfull commentary anyone?

http://www.keypublishing.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16142

It’s been mentioned already