JAL and China Eastern Deepen Codeshare Partnership

Japan Airlines (JAL) and China Eastern Airlines have reached an agreement to greatly expand their codeshare partnership to include their entire Sino-Japan networks. With effect from October 8, the airlines will place their respective flight designators ‘JL’ and ‘MU’ on every flight operated by the other, between cities in China and Japan.

The deeper relationship will add Yantai to JAL’s network of 15 Chinese cities, and Shizuoka, Okayama and Nagasaki to China Eastern’s existing network of 12 Japanese cities. The extension of the codeshare scheme to cover the entire China-Japan network will make it easier for customers to understand and more conveniently select from the combined operations of both carriers’ 386 weekly flights on 42 routes between the two countries.

Aside from the codeshare arrangement between JAL and Shanghai-based China Eastern since September 2002, both airlines have also been offering a reciprocal frequent flyer program since February 1, 2008. Members of JAL’s frequent flyer program, JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) have been able to earn and redeem award tickets even when flying domestically in China on China Eastern. Together with its extensive codeshare ties with fellow oneworld alliance partner Cathay Pacific based in Hong Kong, JAL aims to widen its network coverage to provide business and leisure customers alike, with greater convenience and support.