Air Transport

Proposed airport alliance partners Aeroports de Paris (ADP) and Schiphol Group are to prioritise their international development activities on airports supporting its dual hub strategy and key airports for SkyTeam.

The airport operators have today unveiled plans for a wide-ranging alliance, which would include small cross-shareholdings.

As part of the alliance, the two airports plan to jointly pursue international airport opportunities. "ADP and Schiphol intend to focus on opportunities that will support the dual-hub concept within the international SkyTeam network in particular, and adopt an opportunistic approach in non-SkyTeam zones," the airports say.

ADP boss Pierre Graff says: "We are going to study together the opportunities and we are going to include a joint venture for each project, if we decide to bid together." The partners though note the agreement allows flexibility for each to individually pursue an airport opportunity.

Graff though plays down possible interest in London Gatwick, which airport operator BAA is to sell. "It is a little bit early to give a precise answer," he says. "But you must keep in mind Gatwick in not a SkyTeam airport."