An executive at JAL - Japan Airlines (JL, Tokyo Haneda) says the carrier is looking at allowing Alaska Air Group to join its trans-Pacific joint venture with American Airlines (AA, Dallas/Fort Worth).
Senior VP for route marketing and managing executive officer Ross Leggett told the Japanese digital aviation portal Traicy that plans to expand the joint venture to include the group were advancing.
“There are obviously challenges," he said but added that he hoped talks would get to "the stage where we can make a solid announcement.”
Alaska Air Group is a US holding company that owns Alaska Airlines (AS, Seattle Tacoma International) and Hawaiian Airlines (HA, Honolulu).
Japan Airlines' existing joint venture agreement with American Airlines dates back to 2011. It covers 16 specific routes between Japan and the United States (ten operated by JAL and six by American Airlines), as well as intra-Asian routes (except for India), domestic routes in Japan and in the US, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands that connect into services on these 16 routes. Both airlines are also members of the Oneworld alliance.
Japan Airlines and Akaska Airlines also have an existing codeshare agreement. While less involved than the joint venture agreement with American Airlines, it does allow the sharing of airline codes on flights between Japan and the US West Coast, as well as on some Japan Airlines-operated domestic routes. Alaska Airlines is also a member of Oneworld.
Alaska Airlines and American Airlines did not answer questions on the matter but said they were always looking to improve the customer experience. Japan Airlines did not respond to a request for comment.
The US Department of Justice cleared the way for the Alaska Air Group to acquire Hawaiian Airlines in 2024, meaning that the entity would also be involved in any expanded joint venture agreement. As with Alaska Airlines, Japan Airlines also has an existing codeshare agreement with Hawaiian Airlines, allowing both carriers to put their codes on flights between Hawaii and Japan operated by the other airline.
Any expansion of the existing joint venture between Japan Airlines and American Airlines would be subject to approval from antitrust agencies in Japan and the US.
