The future of aviation is unthinkable without close cooperation between airlines. The long-standing cooperation between KLM and Northwest Airlines has shown that such an alliance can deliver substantial benefits, in spite of stiff competition and a flagging economy. There are currently three major cooperation alliances in the aviation world. These are One World which includes British Airways, SkyTeam which includes Air France, and StarAlliance which includes Lufthansa. In 2004 KLM and Air France announced an agreement that would lead to the creation of Europe’s leading airline group.

KLM togetter with Northwest Airlines and Continental Airlines have joined the Sky Team alliance since September 2004 in which Air France currently cooperates with Delta Air Lines, Alitalia, Korean Air,CSA Czech Airlines, Aéro Mexico and Aeroflot. In addition, the two airlines have agreed that they will retain their own national identity and brand. This cooperative venture will enable KLM and Air France to better meet the challenge of other European alliances. The airlines will mutually benefit from each other’s assets, which include their loyal customers, worldwide networks, the hubs Schiphol and Charles de Gaulle, and the potent KLM and Air France brands.