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

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.