Source: SkyTeam

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  • Tie-up combines plane and high-speed train, giving customers greater choice
  • SkyTeam to offer more intermodal travel than any other global airline alliance

SkyTeam and Trenitalia, Italy’s leading rail operator and part of FS Group, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to offer customers a wider choice of destinations across Italy. Announced today at the World Aviation Festival in Amsterdam, the partnership will enable customers to explore Italy using high-speed Frecciarossa train services – Trenitalia’s high-speed network in Italy – facilitating intermodal travel across the country by combining air and rail itineraries in a single reservation.

With Trenitalia as part of SkyTeam’s global network, customers will be able to book a journey that connects air and rail segments. For example, customers will be able to fly from New York-JFK to Rome Fiumicino, collect their bags and continue their journey by Frecciarossa train.

“We are delighted to join forces with Trenitalia as our second non-airline partner, strengthening SkyTeam’s intermodal travel strategy by offering more high-quality, high-speed rail connections – supporting our mission to future-proof travel. Italy is an important global market for business and leisure travelers and with Trenitalia customers will have more choice and flexibility to go where they want to, how they want to, while enjoying the many benefits for which SkyTeam is known,” said Patrick Roux, CEO, SkyTeam.

“Partnering with SkyTeam takes Trenitalia closer to our vision of being one of the leading players in the European rail transportation market, offering customers high-quality, reliable train travel that complements international flight schedules. We’re excited to be on a journey together with SkyTeam in a shared mission to make travel more responsible and look forward to welcoming SkyTeam customers to our extensive network across Italy,” added Mario Alovisi, Trenitalia Marketing Director and CEO of Italia Loyalty.

Once the partnership with Trenitalia is in place, SkyTeam frequent flyers will be able to earn and spend miles when traveling on eligible Frecciarossa rail itineraries and members of CartaFRECCIA, the loyalty program of Trenitalia’s high-speed train network, will earn and burn points when flying on eligible SkyTeam flights. SkyPriority services will be offered at railway stations where possible, benefiting SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus members and Trenitalia’s CartaFRECCIA Platinum and Gold members.

Currently, 14 SkyTeam member airlines serve Italy from markets across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Greater China. SkyTeam’s partnership with Trenitalia forms part of the global airline alliance’s commitment to making the customer journey more integrated, seamless and responsible through greater access to intermodal travel.

Trenitalia is focused on intermodality and sustainability and offers direct connections to/from 23 Italian airports, including SkyTeam’s Rome Fiumicino hub. The Frecce network reaches 150 destinations in Italy with over 270 daily connections, and also runs in Spain and France with Frecciarossa. Italian cities served by SkyTeam member airlines that offer Frecciarossa connections include: Rome, Milan, Turin, Venice, Genova, Bologna, Florence, Naples, Verona, Bari.