ANA and Malaysia Airlines to start Japan-Malaysia code-share flights

ANA (All Nippon Airways) and Malaysia Airlines are to commence code-sharing operations on air routes between Japan and Malaysia when the summer schedule begins on March 28 this year.

Through this code-share arrangement ANA will market, under its own designator code 'NH', a designated number of seats on Malaysia Airlines flights between Japan and Malaysia. 

Currently Malaysia Airlines operates twelve weekly direct services between Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur, three weekly direct services between Nagoya and Kuala Lumpur and five weekly direct services between Osaka and Kuala Lumpur. The Tokyo-Kuala Lumpur return service is operated using a 278-seater Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft whilst a 229-seater Airbus A330-200 is used between the remaining two city pairs.

ANA passengers travelling on these code-share flights can look forward to experiencing many exclusive services and products introduced by Malaysia Airlines to cater to the needs of the Japanese market. They will enjoy inflight services by Japanese-speaking cabin crew, complemented with Japanese cuisine as well as Japanese language audio and video in-flight entertainment programmes on Malaysia Airlines flights between Japan and Malaysia.

Members of the ANA Mileage Club also enjoy the existing benefits of their membership as they will continue to accrue mileage points for travel on the code-share flights operated by Malaysia Airlines.

Both airlines are now set to further extend the code-sharing agreement to departures from Fukuoka in southern Japan, and Sapporo in the north, and to increase frequencies on the Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka routes, based on the outcome of bilateral air-talks between the governments of Japan and Malaysia.

Cargo code-sharing operations between ANA and Malaysia Airlines will also commence from March 28, and the two carriers are seeking to expand their relationship in other areas of commercial cooperation.

"Malaysia is an important business and leisure destination of our passengers," said Katsuhiko Kitabayashi, ANA's Executive Vice President, International. "This new agreement between two of Asia's premier airlines will mean greater convenience for our passengers and chance to develop tourism and strengthen trade links between Japan and Malaysia."

Malaysia Airline's General Manager Network Planning and Revenue Management, Dr Amin Khan said, "The code share arrangement between Malaysia Airlines and All Nippon Airways is another step towards realizing our strategy for regional alliance. This code share arrangement will allow Malaysia Airlines to widen its market share through exposure in Japan's domestic market. We anticipate a positive reaction from the Japanese market towards this partnership."

ANA and Malaysia Airlines commenced partnership with reciprocal Frequent Flyer rights in October 1994 allowing passengers of both airlines to accrue and redeem mileage on both networks.