Air France 2007 Annual Report Download - page 14

12
2006-07
Leo van Wijk : We already have bilateral “open skies”
agreements, which give us very full access to the United
States out of our respective markets in France and the
Netherlands. However, this new agreement gives our
SkyTeam alliance new potential for growth. Our partners
will be able to open new routes departing from any
European city on which we can use our codes.
Transatlantic flights departing from London-Heathrow
look promising in this regard.
But the most important thing is that this agreement sets a
precedent for the liberalization of other markets, to which
we don’t yet have free and complete access.
Within this context of liberalization of the air
transport industry, how do you see the sector
developing?
Jean-Cyril Spinetta : The agreement between Europe
and the United States will serve as a model for other
regions and will certainly open the way for the emergence
of airlines with greater global reach.
We are convinced that the major companies, of which
Air France and KLM are two, will retain their national roots
and continue to engage in their core activity which is to
link their country and continent with the rest of the world.
In parallel, they will gradually develop strategies enabling
them to become global players through various types of
partnerships such as joint ventures or jointly-owned
companies.
Air France-KLM’s vocation must be to become a global
player, while retaining its European roots, and gradually
extend its economic interests to the rest of the world.
Leo van Wijk : In coming years, in increasingly liberalized
markets, market share gains will be achieved by airlines
which are in good economic shape and which retain
their competitive advantages.
The consolidation process will continue through
acquisitions, mergers and the disappearance of carriers
who cannot keep pace in this environment. This clearly
represents an opportunity for us. But, size is not an
end in itself. Our future involvement in any consolidation
operation is conditional on its compatibility with our
profitable growth objective.
For the moment, we are going to pursue and extend our
partnerships. Air France and Delta will shortly launch a
joint venture based on the proven KLM/Northwest model.
However, our objective, when we are authorized to do so
by the US competition authorities, continues to be to
work together with Delta, Northwest, Air France and KLM
within a common joint venture on the North Atlantic.
We are, moreover, glad to see Northwest and Delta
emerge from Chapter 11. With an improved cost structure
and restored competitiveness, our two partners are
showing their ability to return to profit.
We think that both SkyTeam and Air France-KLM have
the opportunity to increase their presence in the leading
global market represented by the transatlantic routes.
The Asian market also offers significant opportunities.
We envisage establishing a cargo joint venture with a
Chinese airline shortly.
Air France-KLM is currently the global air transport
leader. Does this create a number of obligations?
Leo van Wijk : Our leadership position means we need
to be even more pro-active. Three years after our merger,
we must consolidate our position and maintain our lead
not only in terms of size but also in terms of social
responsibility, product quality and employee satisfaction.
Interview with the two Chairmen