SkyTeam seems to be working full thrust to grow its market share, launching new offerings and services weekly! Now, SkyTeam is significantly expanding its intermodal travel by partnering with two leading European rail operators, Trenitalia and Eurostar. These collaborations are aiming to revolutionize the way passengers experience travel across Europe, taking airline alliances beyond air travel, and allowing a smoother integration of air and rail journeys through a single booking. KLM has already piloted this with great results.

SkyTeam and Trenitalia: Unlocking Italy’s Rich Travel Network

On October 8, 2024, SkyTeam announced a landmark partnership with Trenitalia, Italy’s premier rail operator, at the World Aviation Festival in Amsterdam. This collaboration will enable customers to combine their flight and rail journeys in a single reservation, giving travelers greater flexibility when exploring Italy.

The key highlight of this partnership is that passengers will be able to fly into Italian cities like Rome, Milan, Venice, and Naples, and continue their journey via Trenitalia’s high-speed Frecciarossa trains. The Frecciarossa network boasts over 270 daily connections, reaching 150 destinations across Italy and extending into Spain and France.

Frequent flyers will also benefit from this integration, as SkyTeam loyalty members will be able to earn and redeem miles on eligible Trenitalia routes. Similarly, Trenitalia’s CartaFRECCIA members can earn points when flying SkyTeam airlines. Elite members of both programs will enjoy SkyPriority services at select railway stations, enhancing the overall travel experience.

This partnership is a significant step toward sustainable, integrated travel, aligning with Trenitalia’s focus on sustainability and reducing carbon footprints through efficient rail travel.

SkyTeam partners with Trenitalia for enhanced intermodal travel in 2025.

SkyTeam and Eurostar: Enhancing Connectivity Across Western Europe

Just weeks earlier, on September 25, 2024, SkyTeam announced a similar partnership with Eurostar, marking the airline alliance’s first collaboration with a non-airline partner. This partnership will allow travelers to combine SkyTeam’s long-haul flights with Eurostar’s international rail services, connecting major European cities like London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels in one reservation.

Eurostar, known for its commitment to sustainable travel, is expanding its network to serve 28 destinations across the U.K., France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. With 51 trains in operation and plans to grow from 19 million to 30 million passengers annually, Eurostar is becoming the backbone of eco-friendly travel in Western Europe.

The collaboration between SkyTeam and Eurostar will launch in the first half of 2025, offering travelers a more sustainable way to explore Europe. Customers arriving at major SkyTeam hubs, including London, Amsterdam, and Paris, can easily transfer to Eurostar trains, reducing the need for short-haul flights and lowering carbon emissions.

SkyTeam partners with EuroStar for enhanced intermodal travel in 2025.

What Does This Mean For Frequent Flyers?

As frequent flyers these new intermodal routes offer expanded opportunities to optimize your award flights and earn miles across both air and rail segments. AwardFares is one of the best tools available to find SkyTeam award availability. We’ll keep monitoring how these partnerships are implemented and how these rail routes are displayed when booking award tickets.

In a Nutshell:

  • Seamless air-rail bookings: Combine flights and high-speed train journeys in a single reservation for smoother travel across Italy and Western Europe.
  • Earn and redeem miles: SkyTeam frequent flyers can earn and spend miles on eligible Trenitalia and Eurostar routes.
  • Loyalty program integration: Trenitalia’s CartaFRECCIA members can earn points on SkyTeam flights, and Eurostar’s growing network complements SkyTeam’s hub cities.
  • SkyPriority services: Enjoy SkyPriority perks (where available) at select railway stations for Elite and Elite Plus members.
  • Sustainable travel: Reduce your carbon footprint by replacing short-haul flights with eco-friendly high-speed train journeys.
  • Expanded destination access: Frecciarossa trains in Italy and Eurostar’s international network open up more travel destinations.

Find SkyTeam Award Availability

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