Skyteam partners with Eurostar as its first non-airline partner

Multi-Modal Transit is something some airlines are getting used to, with them provisioning Air-Rail Connections. It seems that Eurostar and SkyTeam are going to take that idea a little further.

Both parties have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that paves the way for integrated intermodal journeys via air and rail for millions of customers.

The move will make Eurostar as SkyTeam’s first non-airline partner

This should mean that customers will be able to travel on itineraries that combine long- and medium-haul flights with sustainable rail journeys in a single reservation – while enjoying SkyTeam benefits.

Eurostar’s increased network offers many possibilities for enjoying multi-city journeys between the U.K., France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, which can easily be accommodated by rail.

Customers will be able to fly into SkyTeam’s main hubs in France, the Netherlands the U.K. and other major European airports across Eurostar’s network and enjoy multi-city travel in a more sustainable way. Currently, around 13% per cent of Eurostar passengers flying long-haul into one of SkyTeam’s main European hubs connect to another Eurostar destination by rail.

In Quotes

Gwendoline Cazenave CEO, Eurostar said

“Offering travellers the choice to see Europe in the most sustainable and convenient way by rail is a key component of Eurostar’s vision for growth. We are creating a future where travellers can connect between Eurostar trains, domestic railways and long haul flying, opening up our services to new markets across the globe. Today is a major step forward towards this mission and we look forward to working with SkyTeam to develop the customer proposition so more travellers can experience Eurostar’s unique service.”

Timeframes

Eurostar and SkyTeam will be working together to develop the products and links for the integrated travel experience. As such the partnership is expected to launch in the first half of 2025.

This won’t affect the current Eurostar and KLM partnership (which was signed under Thalys), which has led to a reduction in flights between Amsterdam and Brussels.

Skipping on Rail will not be an Answer

The big challenge will be ticketing and managing delays – be it on the aircraft side or the train side – and delays do happen, with Eurostar not completely on its own infrastructure – rather sharing classic lines and high-speed lines.

However, it makes the SkyTeam hubs of Paris CDG and Amsterdam Schiphol directly accessible on Eurostar Western European services, whilst secondary locations such as London Heathrow, Paris Orly, Brussels and so forth are within two train connections (including services via the Channel Tunnel).

One of the easiest ways that emissions can be reduced is with the reduction of short-haul flights – especially those that can be made within the 3-hour envelope where high-speed rail is competitive against aviation.

And if Aviation wants to head towards being environmentally friendly, Air-Rail partnerships are going to have to become more important and higher in the agenda – and yes, that means tighter integration at hubs, scheduling integration and fare integration.

It’s exciting to see on an alliance-wide move that SkyTeam has made the first move with Eurostar.

Let us see who follows next.

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