Eurostar to join SkyTeam

High-speed rail service Eurostar is joining SkyTeam and will become the alliance’s first non-airline partner.

Set to launch in the first half of 2025, the partnership will leverage SkyTeam’s presence in the UK, France and the Netherlands – three key countries on Eurostar’s network – via its members Virgin Atlantic, Air France and KLM.

Passengers on SkyTeam airlines arriving into major European airports across Eurostar's network will be able to add Eurostar bookings to their airline reservation and seamlessly transfer between plane and train.

SkyTeam frequent flyers will enjoy status benefits when riding the rails on Eurostar.

Frequent flyers will also enjoy SkyTeam benefits on Eurostar, although the shape of those benefits – such as earning points and status credits, or travel perks like lounge access, fast-track security checks and priority boarding – have not yet been revealed.

Around 13% of Eurostar passengers come from long-range international flights arriving at SkyTeam hubs at Amsterdam, Paris and London Heathrow, Eurostar says.

SkyTeam CEO Patrick Roux described Eurostar as “a natural fit for SkyTeam”, being “one of the world’s most-loved train operators, with a reputation for customer service.”

Europe's fast trains are well established as a popular choice among business travellers.

For her part, Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave said the partnership was “a major step” towards a future “where travellers can connect between Eurostar trains, domestic railways and long haul flying, opening up our services to new markets across the globe.”

Eurostar and KLM are continuing to develop their combined air-rail offering between Amsterdam and Brussels, “which has already led to a reduction in flights between the two cities,” according to Eurostar. 

The move mirrors the partnership between German rail operator Deutsche Bahn and Star Alliance, which sees DB’s intercity ICE trains sporting a ‘flight number’ as Star Alliance looks beyond the skies for green-tinged growth.

Eurostar's SkyTeam membership will launch in the first half of 2025.

Rail has long been an alternative to flying for many business travellers, especially on Europe’s extensive fast rail network, and recent years have seen a continued shift towards rail driven by environmental considerations.

France has banned air travel on routes where there’s a train or bus alternative of less than 2.5 hours, such as from Paris to Bordeaux, Nantes and Lyon.

Meanwhile. Europe’s high-speed rail operators are also clawing away at a large slice of the business travel market, with the ‘Green Speed’ merger between Eurostar and Thalys increasing the reach and appeal of their joint network.