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ANA, Philippine Airlines reach codeshare agreement

3 Oct 2014 01:19:14

atwonline.com

Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Philippine Airlines (PAL) have signed a codeshare agreement, effective Oct. 26 pending regulatory approval.


The partnership will also link the carriers' frequent flyer programs. The codeshare will include flights between Japan and the Philippines, as well as domestic routes at either end.


The partners will offer a combined 74 flights a week between the two countries, with the greater share operated by PAL. The Philippine carrier has flights from Manila to Fukuoka, Nagoya, Osaka, and both Tokyo airports, as well as a route from Cebu to Tokyo Narita Airport. ANA flies to Manila from both Haneda and Narita. Cebu Pacific Air and Japan Airlines also compete on Japan-Philippines routes.


Included in the codeshare are 19 of ANA's domestic routes and 10 routes within the Philippines operated by PAL.


ANA has confirmed it will not be investing in PAL as part of the deal. The Japanese carrier had been discussing the possibility of a strategic investment in PAL last year, according to PAL executives, but the talks ended without result.


The two airlines decided a codeshare partnership was the best option after the investment talks finished. They have reportedly been discussing such an alliance for months. The codeshare was signed by a new PAL management team that took over following business magnate Lucio Tan's purchase of a larger stake in the carrier in mid-September.


Separately, PAL confirmed it will launch one-stop service from Manila to New York JFK beginning in March 2015. The carrier had previously signaled the introduction of this flight, but it was one of the planned routes that was placed under review by the new management team.


The New York flight will operate 4X-weekly with Airbus A340-300s, stopping in Vancouver. It will be PAL's fifth US destination, joining Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and Guam.


After FAA restored the Philippines to a category 1 safety rating in April, PAL executives immediately revealed their intention to expand in the US market.


Read full story: atwonline.com

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