Skyteam Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Perry Cantarutti, says the alliance is looking to add Jet Airways (JAI, Mumbai International) and GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes (G3, São Paulo Congonhas) to its membership as its currently lacks Indian and a Brazilian partner airlines.
Speaking to the Gulf News, Cantarutti said the two carriers are top contenders for SkyTeam given their existing relationships with several alliance members. Jet Airways has codeshare and marketing agreements with Air France, Alitalia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, Korean Air, and Vietnam Airlines, while Gol has similar agreements in place with Air France, Alitalia, KLM, Delta Air Lines, and Korean Air.
However, despite the alliance's designs on the two carriers, Cantarutti underscored that it was not currently "recruiting members” and that there have been no discussions on them joining.
But despite SkyTeam's courtship, neither Gol nor Jet Airways has expressed any intention of joining the alliance for the time being.
Furtherafield, Cantarutti also stated that SkyTeam would consider Iranian carriers for membership once the country's affairs have been put in order and airlines there are able to expand their horizons.
Skyteam currently has nineteen constituent members located in Russia, North America, China, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South East Asia.
