JAL and Malaysia Airlines Launch Codeshare Partnership

In a move to further strengthen the reach of the Oneworld alliance across the Asia Pacific region, existing member Japan Airlines (JAL) and future member Malaysia Airlines have revealed a new codeshare deal which will expand their respective networks.

Starting from July 1, 2012, JAL will start marketing Malaysia Airlines-operated flights between Kuala Lumpur and Japan, as well as five other Malaysia domestic points and seven regional destinations such as Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines will place its own flight indicator on JAL-operated flights connecting Tokyo Narita to Fukuoka, Nagoya and Sapporo in Japan, and to nine international cities including Asian powerhouses like Hong Kong, Taipei and Seoul; resort destinations like Guam and Honolulu, and across the Pacific to Boston, Chicago and New York.

"Japan Airlines is pleased to begin this codeshare arrangement with Malaysia Airlines as members of the alliance gear up to welcome it into the oneworld family" said Masaru Onishi, Chairman, Japan Airlines. "We are looking forward to strengthening JAL's and oneworld's Asian network with them, especially in South East Asia, so as to provide customers with a more connected, comprehensive network and quality service in a region of growth."

"Malaysia Airlines is excited to be able to partner with JAL in a code share that gives us an excellent opportunity to expand Malaysia Airlines reach without having to mount our own flights to cities in Japan and beyond in North Asia and the US," added Ahmad Jauhari Yahy, Group Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Airlines. "This codeshare between Malaysia Airlines and JAL is also an important first step towards strengthening our relations with partner airlines in the oneworld alliance and we hope to enter more codeshare relationships with other oneworld partners progressively in the coming months, which will also contribute towards greater connectivity for the alliance."

Fo full details of the routes covered by the codeshare, please click here.