Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Italian carrier ITA Airways have signed a cross-alliance codeshare agreement connecting their respective networks.

The partnership, effective from Jan. 24, will see ANA place its NH code on ITA Airways’ flights between Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND), which is served five times per week at present using Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The agreement also covers five domestic routes in Italy from FCO to Bologna, Florence, Naples, Turin and Venice.

Similarly, ITA Airways will place its AZ code on six domestic Japanese destinations from HND served by ANA. They are to Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Itami, Kansai, Okinawa and Sapporo.

The airlines say they are considering adding further routes to the partnership “in the near future.” A statement adds: “This agreement will contribute to further consolidate the economic and commercial relations between Italy and Japan and will offer Italian tourists the opportunity to broadly discover the wonders of Japan and to Japanese citizens the opportunity to easily travel to Italy.”

Star Alliance member ANA previously had a codeshare partnership with ITA Airways’ predecessor Alitalia that ran for three years until October 2021, when the airline ceased operations. Like Alitalia, ITA Airways is also a member of SkyTeam, but is expected to join the Star Alliance once Lufthansa completes its takeover of the airline.

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Lufthansa has offered concessions to the European Commission (EC) in an attempt to win approval for the purchase. Local Italian media reports suggest that giving up some slots in Milan could be part of what has been offered.

The EC now has until the Jan. 29 deadline to decide whether to give the merger the green light or proceed to a more in-depth phase-two investigation. Lufthansa wants to take an initial 41% stake in ITA Airways and, under an agreement reached with Italy’s government, should have the opportunity to take over the remaining shares at a later date.