Virgin-Delta Air Venture to Stand Alone With No SkyTeam Link

Delta Air Lines Inc. said its new partner Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. doesn’t plan to join the SkyTeam group and that their joint venture will remain separate from that between the U.S. company and Air France-KLM Group.

Virgin said Dec. 11 it was looking at joining SkyTeam and might reach a decision in a matter of months after Delta bought 49 percent of its stock. Alliance membership helps carriers boost marketing efforts through joint ticket sales, shared lounge access and the combination of frequent-flier programs.