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SkyTeam marks 25 years, enhancing business class on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

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SkyTeam marks 25 years, enhancing business class on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
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SkyTeam | Official Website

SkyTeam, a leading global airline alliance, connects over 1,000 destinations through 18 member airlines. Established in 2000, the alliance has integrated Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners into its long-haul routes, though business class offerings vary among its airlines. Some have chosen staggered or reverse herringbone seat layouts for privacy and aisle access, while others continue with the traditional 2-2-2 configuration. This variation reflects each airline's approach to product consistency and strategy.

Several SkyTeam airlines, including Aeroméxico, Air France, Air Europa, China Eastern, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Saudia, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and XiamenAir, utilize the Boeing 787-9 for its range and efficiency, deploying the aircraft on high-demand routes from major hubs like Mexico City, Paris, and Amsterdam.

Virgin Atlantic, for instance, has positioned the Dreamliner on competitive transatlantic routes, while KLM uses it for long-haul services, such as Amsterdam to Rio de Janeiro. Air France operates this aircraft between Paris and Singapore.

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Based on April 2025 data from Planespotters.net, Air Europa holds the largest fleet of 787-9s in SkyTeam with 25 aircraft, followed by KLM and Korean Air with 24 each. Aeroméxico, Saudia, Virgin Atlantic, Vietnam Airlines, XiamenAir, Air France, and China Eastern also maintain sizable fleets.

SkyTeam carriers exhibit significant differences in business class design on their 787-9s, with seat layouts ranging from 1-2-1 configurations to the older 2-2-2 arrangement. Aeroméxico, Air France, KLM, Saudia, Vietnam Airlines, and XiamenAir favor 1-2-1 layouts, often using reverse herringbone seating for direct aisle access. However, Korean Air and some Air Europa planes continue with a 2-2-2 layout.

To enhance the business class experience, airlines like China Eastern have begun to offer "Business Plus" suites, mirroring first-class amenities without separate cabins. Across the SkyTeam network, business class seats convert into fully flat beds but vary in dimensions and features, with notable differences in in-flight entertainment and storage.

SkyTeam member airlines also provide business class passengers with premium services, including lounge access and priority check-in. Notably, Virgin Atlantic and Aeroméxico offer shared social spaces onboard, such as Virgin Atlantic's "The Bar" and Aeroméxico's "Espacio Premier."

The airline alliance is marking its 25th anniversary with a new brand campaign, reaffirming its focus on customer satisfaction and seamless travel experiences. Evgenia Starkova, VP of Marketing & Sustainability at SkyTeam, stated, “We are excited to unveil SkyTeam’s new brand manifesto, which reflects our growth and vision while marking the significant milestone of our 25th anniversary year….It highlights the future direction of the alliance. We continue to focus on innovation in seamlessness, with the customer always at the heart of everything we do.”

SkyTeam continues to promote a wide range of services for its business class passengers through its SkyPriority program, ensuring a smooth journey across the network's vast number of destinations.

Organizations Included in this History
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