PAL, All Nippon Airways sign code share, frequent flyer deal

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Flag carrier Philippine Airlines Incorporated (PAL) and Japan’s All Nippon Airways Company (ANA) inked an agreement covering code share and frequent flyer programs.

PAL chairman and chief executive officer Lucio Tan and ANA president and chief executive officer Osamu Shinobe signed the agreement – the first since Tan regained control of PAL.

Tan bought back the 49% stake of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corporation for $1.3 billion. (READ: PAL buyback: Lucio Tan’s change of heart)

The code share and the reciprocal frequent flyers programs will take effect on October 26.

The commercial partnership covering areas such as code share and frequent flyer programs are still subject to necessary government approvals, ANA said in a statement.

ANA would add its “NH” designator code to PAL-operated flights not only between Japan and the Philippines but also domestic flights within the country.

PAL would also add its “PR” designator code to Japan-Philippines flights and domestic flights within Japan operated by ANA.

Passengers between Japan and the Philippines could avail of the through check-in facility, thus reducing minimum connection times at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to 90 minutes from 120 minutes when connecting to onward domestic flights.

ANA also added its new service between Haneda International Airport and NAIA, while PAL also added its new daytime service between Manila and Haneda.

Thus, the total number of flights between Japan’s ANA and PAL will be 74 per week, the statement read.

ANA is the 8^th largest airline in the world by revenues and the largest in Japan by passenger numbers in 2012. It services 54 international routes and 111 domestic routes with a fleet of 236 aircraft.

PAL with its 57 aircraft, covers Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. On March 15, 2015, PAL will resume its flight to New York via Vancouver, Canada. PAL used to fly to New York, but was forced to suspend the operations in 1997 due to the Asian financial crisis. – Rappler.com