[15][16] That same year, SkyTeam also launched an improved website focused on providing passengers with more information, increased interactivity and other resources.

As a result of the three new members, SkyTeam surpassed Oneworld to become the second largest airline alliance, serving more than 341 million customers with 14,320 daily flights to 658 destinations in 130 countries.

[48] Also in 2009, Alitalia-Linee Aeree Italiane re-launched operations as the new Alitalia,[49] and the alliance announced initiatives towards a centralized management based in Amsterdam.

[50] The consortium also named a new managing director, Marie-Joseph Malé, outlined a timeline for the opening of its co-located facilities at London Heathrow Airport, and unveiled a new special livery.

[51][52][53][54] However, ties were cut in 2013 after Star Alliance member Aegean Airlines acquired Olympic Air.

[56][57][58] With membership expected to be granted in November the same year, the airline was to be the first Chinese carrier to join a global air cargo alliance.

With an extra 20 unique destinations added to SkyTeam's route map, Vietnam Airlines helped to strengthen the alliance's foothold in the region.

[61] On 22 June, the CEOs and chairmen of the 13 member airlines gathered in New York to celebrate the alliance's 10th anniversary.

[64] On the same day, SkyTeam announced that it had renewed its membership program, thereby upgrading Air Europa, Kenya Airways and TAROM statuses from associate to full members.

[68] In South America, India and Africa, it is clear there will be a significant battle for positioning to lure good carriers in your alliance.During the year, Delta Air Lines offered US$1.02 billion to Japan Airlines after the Asian airline filed for bankruptcy due to US$26 billion debt,[70] at the same time lobbying Oneworld's largest member in Asia to switch to SkyTeam.

Eventually, Japan Airlines opted to remain at Oneworld, citing that the transfer to SkyTeam would confuse its passengers and may not gain antitrust immunity from U.S.

The following month, Aerolíneas Argentinas signed an agreement to officially start the process of becoming the first South American SkyTeam member.

[83][84] Member airlines Delta and Air France–KLM appointed Goldman Sachs in late February 2011 (2011-02) to advise them on a potential bid for Sir Richard Branson's 51% stake in Virgin Atlantic, which could lead to the airline joining SkyTeam and would sharply increase the alliance's footprint in London.

Rivals Star Alliance and Etihad Airlines were also investigating competing options about Virgin Atlantic.

[90] On 29 May 2012, Saudi Arabian Airlines became both the first carrier to join the alliance in 2012 and the first one based in the Middle East, which brought the total members to 16.

[99][100][101] In late June 2013 (2013-06), the Russian newspaper Kommersant published an article that mentions that Aeroflot was considering leaving the alliance over disagreements with Delta on the pricing on some routes to North America.

[102] To assess the benefits of the SkyTeam membership, a study was carried out in July; following it, the Aeroflot board reaffirmed its position within the alliance in September 2013 (2013-09).

Negotiations resumed in March 2022 when IAG agreed to grant Air Europa a €100 million loan convertible into a 20% stake.

[109] In February 2023, negotiations were completed and IAG agreed to buy the remaining 80% stake in Air Europa (which it plans to keep as a separate brand but have managed by Iberia) for €400 million, subject to European regulatory approval.

[123] In February 2022, both Delta and KLM announced plans to suspend their codesharing agreements with Aeroflot in connection with the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

As a result of the approval for the investment, Scandinavian Airlines left Star Alliance on 31 August 2024 and joined SkyTeam in 1 September 2024.

[132][133][134] On February 3, ITA Airways announced that it has left SkyTeam after being an alliance member for three years following the acquisition by German holding Lufthansa Group; the exiting transition period will end by 30 April 2025.

[152] SkyTeam launched a special livery in 2009, coinciding with the alliance's 10th anniversary, with Delta Air Lines being the first airline to paint one of its aircraft with these colours.