Japan Airlines (JAL) and Aeroflot have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand travel opportunities between Russia and Japan in the face of steadily increasing demand.
Japan Airlines (JAL) and Aeroflot have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a strategic cooperation agreement to expand travel opportunities between Russia and Japan.
Since the relaxation of visa requirements to the nationals of Japan and Russia from 1st January 2017, the demand between the two countries has been steadily increasing, and the two airlines have agreed to work together to further stimulate travel between the two countries.
As a first step, the two carriers have agreed to start codeshare cooperation between Japan and Russia as well as Aeroflot’s domestic flights, and JAL’s domestic and international flights. The first stage of the codeshare cooperation is planned to be implemented after fiscal year 2018.
In addition to the codeshare cooperation, the two airlines say they will pursue the development of the partnership in various areas, including frequent flyer programmes, airport relocation, while considering a joint business in the future.
Japan Airlines — the only Japanese carrier operating to Russis for the past 50 years — currently operates four weekly flights to Moscow Domodedovo Airport from Tokyo Narita Airport using Boeing 787-8s. Aeroflot operates daily non-stop flights year-round from Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport to Tokyo Narita Airport on Airbus A330-300s.