Finnair’s most important and extensive partner is Lufthansa, with which a co-operation agreement was signed in 1991. On the basis of this agreement, Finnair’s connections via Germany have improved and feeder traffic between the two airlines has increased. Costs have been reduced with joint arrangements regarding ground handling and catering services. Airlines have also increasingly entered into ‘code-sharing’ agreements; these allow one airline to lease a quota of another airline’s air transport capacity at an agreed price or allow it to use its own flight designator on a partner airline’s flights. The lessee company markets and prices the leased capacity itself. Apart from Lufthansa, Finnair has agreements of this kind with Austrian Airlines, Iberia, Air China and Air Canada, and co-operates closely with Transwede, Maersk Air and Braathens SAFE