Tarom Signs An Agreement With Skyteam To Join The Alliance As Associate Airline

As part of the process, TAROM must meet a set of predetermined requirements, in areas such as operations, technologies and products, in order to ensure that its quality of service standards and operating performance are in line with those of SkyTeam member airlines.
 
Once these conditions have been met, TAROM will receive formal approval from the SkyTeam Governing Board, becoming the fourth SkyTeam Associate airline, after Air Europa, Copa Airlines and Kenya Airways, which joined the Alliance in Sept-07.
 
The agreement was signed at a ceremony at Snagov Palace in Bucharest in the presence of Ludovic Orban, Minister of Transport of Romania, Gheorghe Birla, President and CEO of TAROM and Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Chairman and CEO of AIR FRANCE KLM.
 

Jean-Cyril Spinetta, CEO of TAROM, declared, "Our Associate Programme illustrates the Alliance's global network strategy. It enables us to extend and deepen our offer on buoyant regional markets. SkyTeam has long viewed TAROM as a key partner as the alliance further develops its global network offerings. With its hub at Bucharest, already served by some of SkyTeam member airlines, the Romanian airline will give SkyTeam passengers access to 130 additional daily flights to Eastern Europe and the Middle East”.
 
Passengers travelling on TAROM flights will have access to the same benefits offered by the eleven SkyTeam member airlines and three current associate airlines. These benefits include coordinated frequent flyer programmes on TAROM operated flights and greater access to airport lounges.
 
The SkyTeam Associate Program applies to carriers wishing to take advantage of the benefits of a major alliance, without necessarily having to meet all of the governing and organisational criteria required from fully-fledged member airlines.
 
Each Associate Airline is assigned a current Member to act as its Sponsor and help in the joining and integration processes, as well as represent the interests of the Associate Airline in all decision-making situations with Member Airlines. TAROM will be represented in the alliance governance by Air France.
 
© Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 08-May-08