Oneworld airlines are to consolidate their operations at Tokyo Narita airport alongside future member Japan Airlines (JAL) in Terminal 2.
Qantas is already installed with JAL in T2 and Japan Asia Airways, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Finnair plan to move and join them next year. But British Airways will remain in Terminal 1 for the time being.
Passengers are promised state-of-the-art facilities. Narita airport says it will invest US$170 million in improvements in a five year programme starting this year. It means that connections between international and domestic services and also from one international service to another will become easier.
American, Cathay Pacific and Qantas plan to build their own lounges for premium passengers with JAL upgrading its existing lounges.
Oneworld's current members operate some 250 flights a week to and from Narita destined for the US, Asia, Australia and Europe. JAL alone operates 60 flights a day to 49 destinations worldwide.
In other news, JAL and Hungary's Malev are now participating in Oneworld's Global Explorer round-the-world product. This will provide passengers with more options especially when flying to or through Japan or visiting Central and Eastern Europe.
For more information go to oneworld.com
Report by Alex McWhirter
