This partnership makes Eurostar the first non-airline member of SkyTeam, a move that underscores the growing importance of intermodal travel as both industries seek ways to reduce carbon emissions and improve customer experiences. By offering travellers the convenience of combining air and rail travel, the alliance promotes sustainable mobility and enables greater connections to cities that often do not require a flight.
As airlines and transportation companies face growing pressure to reduce their environmental impact, this partnership comes at a critical time.
The aviation industry is responsible for about 2%-3% of global CO2 emissions, and although efforts are underway to make air travel greener, such as the development of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), it will take time before these solutions become widespread. In the interim, integrating rail travel into long-haul journeys presents a viable and immediate way to lower emissions.
According to a study by EcoRES S.C.R.I. conducted in July 2023, choosing rail over air travel for shorter segments within Europe can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 95%. The train is a significantly more eco-friendly option, and Eurostar’s high-speed network is particularly well-suited for this type of collaboration. With a fleet of 51 trains, Eurostar serves 28 destinations in Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Once the partnership is fully launched in the first half of 2025, passengers will be able to book intermodal journeys that combine air travel with rail in a single reservation. This means a traveller flying into one of SkyTeam’s major hubs — such as Paris Charles de Gaulle, Amsterdam Schiphol, or London Heathrow — will be able to continue their journey by train to destinations across Eurostar’s expanding rail network.
Currently, around 13% of Eurostar passengers flying long-haul into SkyTeam hubs already connect to other Eurostar destinations via rail. By formalising this partnership and integrating it into SkyTeam’s booking system, the companies hope to significantly increase that percentage.
The key benefit of this model is that passengers will enjoy the same convenience they’ve come to expect from airline-to-airline connections, such as unified booking, and loyalty programme integration, all while traveling in a more environmentally friendly way.
“Offering travellers the choice to see Europe in the most sustainable and convenient way by rail is a key component of Eurostar’s vision for growth,” said Gwendoline Cazenave, CEO of Eurostar. “We are creating 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. Today is a major step forward towards this mission, and we look forward to working with SkyTeam to develop the customer proposition so more travellers can experience Eurostar’s unique service.”
For SkyTeam, incorporating a high-speed rail partner into their alliance is a bold move that aligns with their vision of responsible and innovative travel. “Working with Eurostar as our first non-airline partner underscores SkyTeam’s commitment to delivering a more integrated and responsible travel experience by incorporating intermodal travel,” said Patrick Roux, CEO of SkyTeam. “One of the world’s most-loved train operators, with a reputation for customer service, Eurostar is a natural fit for SkyTeam. I look forward to developing our partnership and offering customers greater choice in how they travel across SkyTeam’s global network.”
As airlines strive to meet ambitious sustainability goals, rail offers an immediate solution for short-haul connections, which are often the most environmentally damaging flights due to their higher emissions per passenger mile. By replacing these short-haul routes with high-speed rail links, both airlines and passengers can significantly reduce their carbon footprint.
The partnership between Eurostar and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, a SkyTeam member, is a prime example of how intermodal travel can lead to tangible environmental benefits. The two companies have already collaborated to reduce flights between Amsterdam and Brussels, a journey easily covered by train. This move has paved the way for other SkyTeam members to consider similar reductions on short-haul routes in Europe, where high-speed rail is a viable alternative.
This shift toward integrating rail and air travel also aligns with European government initiatives to reduce domestic flights. France has already introduced measures that ban domestic flights on routes where rail travel offers a viable alternative. By embracing rail partnerships, airlines can stay ahead of these regulations while providing their customers with a seamless and sustainable travel experience.
Eurostar and SkyTeam’s partnership come at a time when, for many, sustainability is no longer a choice but a necessity. As climate change continues to reshape the global travel industry, partnerships like this will likely become more common, with other airlines and rail operators following suit.
It’s also understood that Eurostar’s ambition to increase its annual passenger numbers from 19mn to 30mn will be bolstered by this partnership.
This shift towards intermodal travel is also expected to boost SkyTeam’s overall appeal. By adding Eurostar to its alliance, SkyTeam is tapping into a broader network of cities across Europe that can be reached by rail, making it an attractive option for passengers seeking eco-friendly travel.
The author is an aviation analyst. X handle: @AlexInAir
