SkyTeam’s Wim Iserief Discusses Alliance Strategy, Corporate Engagement, and the Future of Global Travel

Published on July 11, 2025

Wim Iserief, Director of Sales at SkyTeam, has been at the forefront of the alliance’s strategic initiatives, focusing on expanding its global reach and enhancing corporate partnerships. With over two decades of experience in the aviation industry, Iserief’s leadership has been instrumental in driving SkyTeam’s growth and fostering stronger relationships with member airlines and corporate clients.

Hi Wim, it’s great to have you here. Can you explain why SkyTeam is attending the Business Travel Show this year?

Yeah, of course. We’re here because we believe it’s important as an alliance – SkyTeam represents 18 airlines – to be present at the Business Travel Show. This event is a prime opportunity for us to meet with many of our corporate customers, as well as other potential customers and vendors. Right now, we have 15 of our member airlines present at the SkyTeam booth during the two-day event. For us, it’s less about making deals but more about relationship management. It’s crucial for us to stay visible from a branding perspective and to strengthen our partnerships.

I see, so it’s about building relationships and maintaining visibility. It sounds like you’re on the lookout to add value to both potential and existing customers. Could you elaborate on that?

Exactly. What we do at SkyTeam is assist our member airlines in being present in the corporate space. What we bring to big corporate customers is the ability to manage corporate contracts under the SkyTeam umbrella. This means that for a corporate customer, they don’t have to negotiate separate deals with each of the 18 carriers. Instead, they can sign one deal with SkyTeam from a legal perspective, simplifying the process.

While each airline will manage its own pricing and contracts, we offer a single point of contact and a unified legal agreement. This not only streamlines the process but also makes it easier for corporate customers to manage. Additionally, we aim to increase visibility, showing both corporate and leisure customers what SkyTeam can offer and how we can support their travel needs.

That sounds incredibly efficient. How successful do you think your experience has been at this show in achieving those objectives?

This year marks our third consecutive year attending this show as an alliance. In the first year, we were presenting separately from our joint venture partners, like FRA Scale and Delta Virgin, which, of course, are huge players in the UK market. In the second year, we were positioned either next to each other or across from each other, but this year, in 2025, we decided to unite forces. Now, SkyTeam, Virgin, and Delta are all representing our member airlines together, which is a major shift.

The most important thing for us this year is that we’re clearly showing to corporate travelers, as well as travel managers and procurement teams, that even though we are an alliance, we still focus on providing personalized, high-quality services for each customer. We’re not just about alliances, but also about delivering the best value and service for our member airlines.

That collaboration must have a big impact on the customers. Do you think it’s a successful strategy?

Absolutely. By joining forces with Virgin and Delta, we’re able to create a stronger presence in the UK market and show corporate travelers that they have more options and better services under the SkyTeam umbrella. Whether it’s a corporate traveler or a leisure customer, the key takeaway is that we are committed to making their experience as seamless and straightforward as possible.

At the same time, we’re making sure that the members within SkyTeam feel supported and have the resources they need to succeed in the corporate travel space. It’s all about creating a balance between individual airline needs and the broader goals of the alliance, ensuring that everyone benefits.

It sounds like a well-rounded strategy. Thank you, Wim, for sharing these insights into SkyTeam’s approach to corporate travel and its role in the industry. It’s exciting to see how SkyTeam is evolving and making a big impact on the global travel scene.

Thank you for having me. We’re very excited about the future and the opportunities that lie ahead for SkyTeam, and I’m happy to share our vision and strategy with you today.

About TravelTech Show

The TravelTech Show 2025, organized by Northstar Travel Group, took place on June 25–26, 2025, at ExCeL London. As Europe’s leading event dedicated to travel technology, it brought together over 100 exhibitors, thousands of travel professionals, and industry innovators to explore the latest advancements shaping the future of travel.