Continental Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Northwest Airlines have joined the SkyTeam airline alliance, which will allow passengers to accrue frequent flyer miles interchangeably throughout the nine-member group, the alliance said on Monday.

The additions allow member airlines to offer passengers more travel options since they add to a network of hubs and destination cities. At the same time, member carriers can benefit through streamlining their businesses and exploring synergies with partner carriers.

Other SkyTeam members include Korean Air and Italy's Alitalia, as well as Air France, which recently merged with KLM.

With the addition of the new members, the SkyTeam Alliance becomes the world's No. 2 alliance, behind Star Alliance, which includes United Airlines and Lufthansa among its 15 members.

(Reuters)