Japan Airlines and Vietnam low-cost carrier VietJet Air have entered a wide-ranging codeshare agreement.
The pact will see the pair codeshare on JAL's flights between Japan and Vietnam, say the two carriers in a joint statement. The pair will also codeshare on each other's domestic networks, and JAL will codeshare on VietJet's flights to other Asian countries.
"These are the significant add-ons expected to create more customer convenience," say the two carriers.
"JAL and Vietjet will further explore opportunities to develop the partnership in various areas, including a frequent flier partnership, aircraft operations and maintenance as well as ground handling services and training."
In an interview with FlightGlobal last August, VietJet chief executive Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao said that her carrier was in discussions for interlining with a Japanese and US carrier.
Oneworld carrier Japan Airlines suffered a setback in the Vietnamese market in 2016 when Star Alliance rival All Nippon Airways obtained an 8.8% stake in Vietnam Airlines. This set the stage for an extensive codesharing arrangement between ANA and Vietnam Airlines, which is part of Skyteam.
FlightGlobal Schedules indicates that JAL had extensive codesharing with Vietnam Airlines, but that these were all ceased by April 2015.
SRS Analyzer shows that JAL operates daily flights on the Tokyo Narita-Hanoi route. It also operates a daily service to Ho Chi Minh City from both Tokyo Haneda and Tokyo Narita. It operates Boeing 787-8 aircraft on all of its Vietnam services.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
