Japan Airlines and Travelport Worldwide have agreed to form a joint venture to take ownership of Travelport Japan and Axess International Network, a subsidiary of the carrier.

Under the unified Travelport Axess brand, the joint venture will operate a global distribution system tailored to the needs of the Japanese travel industry.

Travelport Axess will continue to offer travel agents services through Axess’ global distribution system platform, Axess, and enable access to Travelport’s global distribution system platforms, Apollo and Galileo. 

The proposed joint venture will provide online, mobile and corporate travel propositions including global booking and expense management tools as well as access to new distribution capability content, offering Japanese travel agencies and their customers the best of locally developed products with best in class global connectivity and capabilities.

Travelport has worked closely with and provided core systems to Axess under technical collaboration arrangements since 2012 and has established a trusted relationship with JAL.

Yoriyuki Kashiwagi, Japan Airlines executive officer of international passenger sales, said: “We believe that the future of travel will be transformed by technological innovation. 

“I am confident that Travelport Axess, will be able to help Japanese travel agents to respond to growing global demands by offering services based on state-of-the-art technology.”

Under the planned agreement, Travelport will hold a majority stake in Travelport Axess, with JAL controlling the remaining stake and playing an active role in the joint venture.

Following the signing of a definitive agreement between Travelport and JAL, the new joint venture is expected to be formed in June.

Initially, Travelport Japan and Axess will continue to operate independently, with a gradual program of integration to combine the two organisations commencing later this year.