Eurostar will join SkyTeam this year

High-speed rail service Eurostar is expected to join SkyTeam this year, becoming the alliance’s first non-airline partner.

Although initially promised for 2025, a SkyTeam spokesperson has confirmed to Executive Traveller that the project has been pushed back to mid-year.

“SkyTeam and Eurostar have extended the MOU until 30 June 2026,” the alliance spokesperson said.

When it does launch, 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.

“The cooperation between SkyTeam and its intermodal partners focuses on two key areas to enable seamless Air-Rail connectivity,” the SkyTeam spokesperson elaborated.

First would be “allowing customers to purchase an Air-Rail ticket on a preferred SkyTeam member airline platform,” while also “providing SkyTeam member airlines the capability to offer real-time updates on their website and/or app to keep customers informed throughout their Air-Rail transfers.”

“Additionally, we are focusing on key elements of the customer journey that will help to ensure a smooth and consistent end-to-end experience, even in the event of disruptions.”

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

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

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 fast-rail operators are also clawing away at a large slice of the business travel market.

Eurostar intends to run direct trains from London to Frankfurt and Zurich, with a fleet of new high-speed trains making the journey in under six hours.

However, Eurostar is facing its own challenges as a half-dozen rail operators aim to unlock its UK-EU monopoly with the promise of lower fares and new routes.

Read more: Fresh competition for Eurostar on high-speed London-Europe trains