JAL joins oneWorld
 

First reported by Japanese media (25OCT), JAL is joining oneWorld (Japanese)

JAL also has strong ties with Skyteam's Air France, Korean Air and Alitalia.

Apparently there is a press conference by Japan Airlines at 4pm local (Japan) time to discuss the details of the plan.

Should open up some opportinities in terms of xONEx'ing it. For the mileage runners the route to Delhi looks nice (3679 miles). To Jakarta (3620 miles) looks promising as well

Also, you've got to love their routemap complete with 80's video game style sounds as you move the cursor around! :)

Press Release here:
http://www.jal.com/en/press/0000318/318.html

Excellent News :)

Good news! OW has been actively recruiting during the past months: first Malev, then Royal Jordanian and now JAL. Let's hope it works out well.

Fine addition to OneWorld. ^ I'm hoping for a carrier with a SE Asian network to be next (purely from a selfish POV)!

I'm so glad that they didn't go for SkyTeam. ^

What will be the benefits of JL joining oneworld?

• Expanded access to China/Japan cities as well as key asian cities like SIN, BKK, KUL,
• Expanded choices for oneworld RTW tickets, revenue or awards like oneworld multicarrier awards

Star Alliance and SkyTeam are no match on a route like HKG-NRT....

I wonder what will happen to Japan Asia Airways, JL's subsidiary serving chiefly Taiwan.

Any others?

Cool
 

Finnairs' Guangzhou won't be a dead-end anymore. And Tokyo-Papeete makes me wonder if LHR-SYD-PPT-NRT-HNL-LAX-LHR is possible..

There's also a connection between Tokyo-Sao Paulo! :)

Be aware that NRT-PPT, and indeed Osaka-PPT are codeshares - the metal belongs to Air Tahiti Nui, which may affect it's use depending on the ticket. Certainly as far as an xONEx goes it will be no use.

And the Tokyo-Sao Paolo will almost certainly be subject to the same rules as Eur-Aus. Because it transits JFK that will count as entering North America, so it still won't be possible to have Asia-SouthAmerica-Europe-Asia as an xONE3

Although I hear they have some significant financial and management issues, this sounds like a good move.

LOVE that there's now an Asia/HNL link!

Does anyone know what the typical timesclaes are between openning discussion and actually becoming a member? I'd really like to JAL on my one world explorer ticket in Dec. Not sure how likely that is ...

m

If your talking Dec 05, forget it. Dec 06 possible but not definate, Dec 07 most likely and Dec 08 for sure.

Press Release from OneWorld:

JL is only seeking OneWorld membership. From application, approval to integration, my guess will be sometime in 2007.