PAL, ANA in code share, frequent flyer partnerships

MANILA, Philippines - National flag carrier Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) Tan and All Nippon Airways Co. (ANA) entered into a commercial partnership covering code-share and frequent flyer programs to benefit airline passengers between the Philippines and Japan.

In a statement, ANA said the commercial partnership covering areas such as code-share and frequent flyer programs would be subject to necessary government approvals.

It added that the agreement would benefit customers of both ANA and PAL by providing them with greater choice and flexibility.

The code-share and the reciprocal frequent flyers programs would commence on Oct. 26.

“The total number of flights between Japan and Philippines operated by ANA and Philippine airlines will be 74 per week,” the statement read.

Under the code-share, ANA would add its “NH” designator code to PAL-operated flights not only between Japan and Philippine but also domestic flights within the Philippines.

PAL would also add its “PR” designator code to flights between Japan and the Philippines and domestic flights within Japan operated by ANA.

Under the partnership, passengers between Japan and the Philippines could take advantage of through check-in reducing minimum connection times at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to 90 minutes from 120 minutes when connecting to onward domestic flights.

ANA is the eighth largest airline in the world by revenues and the largest in Japan by passenger numbers in 2012. It services 54 international routes and 111 domestic routes with a fleet of 236 aircraft.

PAL, on the other hand, covers Asia, Australia, the Middle East, US and Europe with a fleet of 57 aircraft. It is set to return of New York on March 15 next year via Vancouver after stopping the service in 1997.