BA/JAL link - British Airways and Japan Airlines have inked a strategic partnership agreement that will take effect from 1 April. Initially covering codesharing on JAL's Osaka-London service from "late summer", it moves the Japanese carrier closer to a place in the oneworld alliance. JAL has strong ties with all five members. JAL and American Airlines have applied to codeshare on routes between the USA and Japan. Air Canada alliance - Air Canada has signed off an alliance agreement with Singapore Airlines (SIA) covering frequent-flier programme links, schedule co-ordination, through-service check-in, reciprocal lounge usage and codesharing. The deal brings SIA closer to the Star Alliance, having already struck accords with founding members Lufthansa and SAS, and future members Air New Zealand and Ansett Australia. Executive pay cut - China Airlines (CAL) executives at management level and above have taken salary cuts of between 3% and 10% as per an internal cost awareness drive. The salary cuts took effect from 1 January. Bangladesh got its first all-cargo airline in early January. Bismillah Airlines is a Bangladeshi/Kazakh joint venture, and took to the skies with an inaugural route linking Dhaka with Bangkok. New services are planned for Macau, Shenzhen, Sharjah and Ostend.
Source: Airline Business
