Air China and ANA Start Codeshare Cooperation
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Beijing, Februrary 26, 2004--Air China and ANA announced today at a joint press conference at Renaissance Beijing Hotel in China that they have signed a codeshare agreement on Sino-Japan routes operated by both airlines, including cooperation on frequent flyer programmes and airport lounge use. |
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| From March 28 this year Air China and ANA will commence their codeshare cooperation and jointly operate 102 flights per week between Beijing and Tokyo/Osaka, Shanghai and Tokyo/Osaka, Hangzhou and Tokyo/Osaka. ANAs 63 weekly flights from Tokyo Narita and Osaka Kansai to Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou will carry the Air China code. Air Chinas 39 weekly flights on the same routes will operate under Air Chinas and ANAs flight numbers. Both airlines will also inaugurate flights between Hangzhou and Tokyo/Osaka in summer schedule bringing the total of code-share flights to 105 by April 21. |
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| In addition to the codeshare agreement, members of Air China’s Companion Frequent Flyer Program and ANA Mileage Club members will be eligible to accrue mileage on the code-share flights and redeem it on any flight on each other’s networks. |
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| Since October 1st last year, ANA and Air China have been operating a connection service via Beijing between Tokyo Narita and the Chinese domestic cities of Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Changchun. This service is designed to facilitate onward domestic travel in China for passengers arriving from Japan, and for those passengers traveling to Japan from the above cities. |
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| Demand for air traffic is forecast to grow in line with a quickly expanding Chinese economy, and both airlines will be able to play a greater role in that growth thanks to the their cooperation. |
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| Air China has already signed individual code-share cooperation agreements with over 60 international or regional airlines, including Lufthansa, United Airlines, Asiana, Finnair, Austrian, SAS, Turkish and Dragon Air. The scope of the cooperation with ANA also encompasses the exchange of cabin crew on certain flights, thus further improving passenger amenity and comfort in-flight. Air China and ANA will achieve closer ties in a win-win situation for both companies. |
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| Air China’s president Li Jiaxiang said: “Comprehensive restructuring and consolidation of the civil aviation industry of China in 2003 brought new opportunities for the development of Air China. After consolidation, Air China can enjoy more advantages in terms of route structure and resources allocation. Despite the SARS epidemic, Air China still made profits in 2003, which laid a solid foundation for our further development. Air China is persisting in the philosophy of “safety first and customer orientation”. Our services are designed to give customers peace of mind, increase their level of satisfaction and comfort, and to make their trips an all-around pleasant and memorable experience. We are aiming to become the leading airline, which can compete with world class airlines with superior quality of products and services. The codeshare cooperation with ANA is an important step taken towards the strategy of exploring bilateral cooperation and implementing globalization, following the codeshare with Lufthansa, United Airlines and etc.” |
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| ANA’s President and CEO, Yoji Ohashi, said of the marketing agreement, “Demand for travel between our two countries is potentially enormous and we are delighted to work with Air China to mutually strengthen our networks in this manner. We are convinced that thanks to this new arrangement we can better meet the needs of the public traveling between Japan and China for both business and pleasure. Despite one of the worst years in the history of aviation in Asia, traffic has made a robust return. Air China and ANA now find themselves in a position to maximize the opportunities afforded by this very dynamic market and to bring greater choice and new services to our passengers.” |
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Code-share flights from March 28, 2004
| Beijing-Tokyo |
Air China 7 flights per week |
ANA 14 flights/ week |
(21 total) |
| Beijing-Osaka |
Air China 11 flights per week |
ANA 7 flights/ week |
(18 total) |
| Shanghai-Tokyo |
Air China 14 flights per week |
ANA 21 flights/ week |
(35 total) |
| Shanghai-Osaka |
Air China 7 flights per week |
ANA 14 flights/ week |
(21 total) |
| Hangzhou-Tokyo |
ANA 4 flights/ week |
(ANA only route) |
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| Hangzhou-Osaka |
Air China 3 flights per week |
ANA 3 flights /week |
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Code-share flights operated jointly by Air China and ANA cabin crew
One Air China cabin crew member will serve on board ANA operated flights and vice-versa
| CA925/NH5702 |
Beijing-Tokyo |
CA926/NH5703 |
Tokyo-Beijing |
| NH955/CA6652 |
Tokyo-Beijing |
NH956/CA6651 |
Beijing-Tokyo |
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