Eurostar and SkyTeam have signed a memorandum of understanding which will see the high-speed rail operator become the alliance’s first non-airline partner.
The partnership is expected to launch in the first half of 2025, and will enable customers to book “integrated intermodal journeys”, combining rail trips and medium/long-haul flights in single reservations.
The announcement also hinted at customers “enjoying SkyTeam benefits”, although it’s not clear exactly what form this will take.
The partnership will leverage SkyTeam’s presence in the UK (Virgin Atlantic), France (Air France) and the Netherlands (KLM) – three key countries on Eurostar’s network.
It also allows SkyTeam to highlight its sustainable credentials of pushing European rail connections as an alternative to short-haul flights.
SkyTeam said that currently around 13 per cent of Eurostar passengers flying long-haul into one of the alliance’s main European hubs connect to another Eurostar destination by rail.
The news follows the integration of Germany’s national railway company Deutsche Bahn as a Star Alliance intermodal partner in 2022.
