Both Japan Airlines and Malaysia Airlines have been granted regulatory approval to launch a joint business structure which will see them share income and collaborate on flight operations.
Both the airlines will begin joint operations from April 2020 for flights between Japan and Malaysia.
After receiving approval from the Malaysian Aviation Commission (MAVCOM) and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, both Japan Airlines and Malaysia Airlines said in a statement, “The agreement for joint business will allow the two carriers to cooperate commercially on flights between Malaysia and Japan and aims to deliver customers with more benefits by providing additional flight choices, a larger network, better connections, and an enhanced frequent flyer programme.”
It is understood that Malaysia Airlines has been looking for a partner to help the carrier run its business for quite some time. According to media reports, Japan Airlines was among four other carriers that made the final list.
In October, Malaysia Airlines also signed a wide-ranging commercial agreement with Singapore Airlines to further strengthen the partnership between the two carriers. The carriers signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the month of June.
Last month, the Japanese carrier announced the expansion of its global network between Japan and the US, Finland, Russia, Australia, India, and China. As a result, the carrier will feature 34 international routes at Tokyo-Haneda airport, starting March 29, 2020.
Japan Airlines is also planning to target additional markets in the US. Next year, the airline will start new services from Haneda to Chicago, Fort Worth and Los Angeles as well as an additional flight to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.