Japan Airlines (JAL) will further strengthen its Japan-China network, the largest network between the two countries, by expanding its bilateral code share agreements with China Eastern Airlines (MU), and Xiamen Airlines (MF).From October 29, 2006, JAL starts code sharing on China Eastern Airlines’ daily non-stop service between *censored*uoka and Shanghai.

The agreement doubles the number of flights per week available to JAL passengers traveling between *censored*uoka - Shanghai, as JAL currently operates its own daily service between the two cities.

The two airlines have also agreed to extend their bilateral agreement on December 12, 2006 to the thrice-weekly non-stop service operated by China Eastern Airlines, between Osaka (Kansai) and Kunming. This direct route serves as a convenient alternative to the indirect daily service via Beijing that JAL currently offers between the two cities.

Xiamen Airlines has also agreed to JAL placing its `JL’ designator from December 08, 2006 on the Chinese airline’s twice-weekly Osaka (Kansai) - Hangzhou service. The code share flight departs Mondays and Fridays increasing the options available to passengers currently using JAL’s own flight departing Osaka for Hangzhou on Thursdays and Sunday.

When the new code shares come into effect, JAL’s international Japan-China network will cover 30 routes and 264 flights per week serving 13 cities in China.

At present, JAL, including code shares, serves 12 cities in China on 29 routes with a total of 240 flights per week. Flight frequency increases announced earlier this year by JAL will increase this to 252 flights per week by the end of October.

Presently JAL codes shares on Xiamen Airlines’ Osaka (Kansai) - Xiamen route, and on 9 routes operated by China Eastern Airlines serving 5 cities in China.

JAL is actively expanding its network between Japan and China to meet expected continued growth in traffic between the two countries.
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