Japan Airlines to codeshare with China Southern

Japan Airlines and China Southern Airlines have reached an agreement to code share on their flights between Tokyo and Guangzhou starting March 30.

The JAL Group currently offers daily flights between Tokyo's Narita Airport and Guangzhou, operated under a code share with Japan Air System (JAS) using JAS Airbus 300-600 aircraft and crew. China Southern Airlines also  operates a daily service, using Boeing 777 aircraft, in a code share with JAS.

From March 30, JAL will take over the code share partnership with China  Southern from JAS, which will continue to supply the aircraft and crew. The agreement reflects the eventual switch of JAL Group international services to the Japan Airlines banner as part of the JAL/JAS integration, due to be completed by April 2004.

The code sharing agreement between JAL and China Southern initially covers the summer season, March 30 through October 25.