Japan’s largest airline All Nippon Airway has signed a joint venture with Singapore’s flag carrier Singapore Airlines to strengthen their already existing relationship.
The deal will see the airlines expand their partnership beyond the shores of their respective countries and into such key markets as Australia, India, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Subject to regulatory approval, the agreement will go beyond the existing partnership both carriers have, which focuses on code-sharing, among other things.
The agreement will cover “a broad range of joint fare products, tie-ups between frequent flyer programmes, and aligned corporate programmes”, SIA and ANA state in a joint media release.
Earlier in the month, media reports indicated that the two carriers were in talks about a joint venture agreement, though both carriers declined to comment.
ANA president and chief executive Yuji Hirako says: “[ANA has] worked closely with Singapore Airlines for many years and we are excited to take this partnership one step further. The joint venture will help ANA and Singapore Airlines build upon their reputation for superior service, further differentiating both airlines from the competition.”
ANA has existing joint venture partnerships with fellow Star Alliance carriers, United Airlines and Lufthansa, while SIA has the same with Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines. SIA has also applied to enter into a similar partnership with Malaysia Airlines.
ANA currently operates four flights a day between Tokyo and Singapore. Meanwhile, SIA flies four times a day to Tokyo Haneda and twice daily to Tokyo Narita. It also has thrice-daily flights to Osaka Kansai, as well as daily flights to Nagoya and Fukuoka.
