JAL gets green light for European JV
Japan Airlines (JAL) has been granted permission to form a new joint venture with the International Airlines Group (IAG) for flights between Europe and Japan.
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport & Tourism (MLIT) has granted the two parties anti-trust immunity for the venture, enabling JAL and its oneworld alliance partner British Airways to cooperate commercially on a range of flights. Expected to be launched by late March 2013, the deal covers revenue sharing, combining frequent flyer programmes, coordinating flight schedules, and the potential to launch new routes.
“We would like to thank the Ministry for approving our application for ATI (anti-trust immunity) with IAG,” said Yoshiharu Ueki, JAL’s President.
“Amid the evolving Japanese aviation industry, the ATI will enable us to build a strong value-creating relationship with British Airways that can benefit our customers as well as our businesses.”
IAG’s Chief Executive Willie Walsh added; “We are delighted the Japanese authority has given regulatory approval for the joint business which will bring great benefits to consumers.
“British Airways has been flying to Japan for more than 60 years and this new agreement will strengthen our ties to the world’s third largest economy and further enhance our relationship with JAL.”
The agreement follows a similar joint venture agreement launched last year by JAL and American Airlines for trans-Pacific flights. Earlier this year, Star Alliance partners ANA and Lufthansa launched their own joint venture for routes between Japan and Europe.
JAL currently flies daily from Tokyo Narita to London Heathrow, Frankfurt and Paris Charles de Gaulle. It also has a daily service from Tokyo Haneda to Paris. BA meanwhile, offers a daily service from Heathrow to Narita and five weekly flights from Heathrow to Haneda.
The tie-up still needs approval from EU regulators.