Flights between Europe and Japan are set to increase as part of a new joint business between British Airways and Japan Airlines (JAL).
BA’s parent company International Airlines Group (IAG) has agreed plans with the Japanese carrier for revenue sharing on flights from the two carriers.
IAG said the deal could create “a greater choice of flights, enhanced frequent flyer benefits and the potential to launch new routes”.
Willie Walsh, IAG’s chief executive, said: "British Airways has a long history of flying to Japan and linking the world's third largest economy to the UK and Europe."
"We have very close links with JAL and look forward to enhancing that relationship further. Despite the difficulties the Japanese aviation market has faced in recent years, we have great confidence in JAL's business outlook and the overall market's future prospects.”
Both carriers are members of the Oneworld alliance and JAL came out of bankruptcy in March last year. The two airlines already operate separate joint ventures with American Airlines - BA over the Atlantic and JAL over the Pacific.
IAG said it was already “in contact” with the European Union to get clearance for the deal with JAL, which has also submitted its own application to Japanese authorities to be given “anti-trust immunity”.
For more information visit ba.com, jal.com.
Report by Rob Gill
