KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia Airlines Bhd and Japan Airlines (JAL) have received approval from Malaysian and Japanese authorities to broaden their joint venture to include additional flight choices, a larger network, better connections and an enhanced frequent flyer programme.
The pair would also jointly develop tourism between the two markets.
JAL president Yuji Akasaka said the two airlines hope to launch the joint business relationship in 2020 to coincide with the Tokyo Olympics.
Previously, the two airlines offered codeshare flight operations between Japan and Malaysia under the oneworld alliance.
Currently, Malaysia Airlines operates 12 flights weekly to Tokyo and JAL operates a seven-times weekly service to KL. Malaysia Airlines also operates a daily service from Kuala Lumpur to Osaka and a twice weekly service from Kota Kinabalu to Tokyo.
In July, sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd, the sole shareholder of Malaysia Airlines, hired US investment bank Morgan Stanley to look at strategic options to bolster the loss-making carrier.
The banker’s report is expected shortly.