JAPAN AIRLINES AND IAG TAKE FIRST STEP TOWARDS INTENDED JOINT BUSINESS BETWEEN JAPAN AND EUROPE
02/08/2012 | 03:46am
TOKYO February 8, 2012:Japan Airlines
(JAL) and International Airlines Group (IAG) have agreed
plans for a new joint business between JAL and British
Airways on flights between Europe and Japan. The joint
business would benefit customers by providing better links
between Europe and Japan, greater choice of flights, enhanced
frequent flyer benefits and the potential to launch new
routes.
JAL has today submitted its application to the Japanese
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
(MLIT) seeking antitrust immunity to co-operate on flights
between the EU and Japan with British Airways. IAG is in
contact with the European Union.
The revenue-sharing agreement would also strengthen the
oneworld alliance and enable it to compete more effectively
around the world with other global alliances.
"JAL is looking forward to the potential customer
benefits we foresee from the synergies with British Airways,"
said current president
andchairman-electof
JAL, Masaru Onishi.
"Just as our customers travelling over the Pacific have
gained from the joint business between JAL and American
Airlines which began last April, we expect the closer
relationship with British Airways to also provide the
travelling public between Europe and Japan with greater
convenience and options.
"JAL seeks to continue improving customer experiences
all-around, including through tighter cooperation with our
quality partners as the industry liberalises."
IAG chief executive Willie Walsh 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.
"The MLIT has a key role in this process and we hope to
receive approval from them for the joint business which would
bring great benefits to consumers."
END
