JAL and BA expand their codeshare agreement to cover additional European cities

Japan Airlines (JAL) and British Airways (BA) announced today that they have reached an agreement to expand their codeshare agreement to cover additional cities in Europe. Rome, Milan, Bologna, Amsterdam, and Warsaw will be added to the list of codeshare flights from October 28 2012. Reservation and sales have started today.

JAL and BA has recently commenced their joint business venture on October 1 2012 and offer joint sale fares between Japan and Europe. With this expansion, JAL will codeshare on BA operated flights from London to 32 cities while BA place its BA code on JAL operated flights on 17 routes originating from Tokyo to 14 cities.

JAL used to fly to Milan, Rome and Amsterdam but the flights were suspended back in 2010 as part of the restructuring efforts to return revive JAL. Through codesharing with Finnair (AY), JAL was able to keep Amsterdam on to their route map as a codeshare location. On November 1 2010, JAL added Milan and Rome back to their route back as codeshare locations through an expanded codeshare agreement with Cathay Pacific Airways (CX). However, in the latest timetable, JAL no longer lists that they are codesharing on CX's flights to Milan and Rome. In fact, they are not even listed on the route map dated April 1 2012 on JAL corporate website. So the new expanded codeshare agreement with BA will once again add Milan and Rome back onto JAL route map. Bologna will also be a new addition as well. So there will be a net additional of 3 international destinations form today's announcement. 

No flight info were given in the press release issued today. But I bet if you look at the reservation system, you will be able to find out which flights JAL and BA codeshare on given they are bookable right now :)

For more information, please refer to JAL Press Release (Japanese, English)