National carrier SriLankan Airlines, further consolidating its presence in the Far East, commenced a new codeshare partnership with Japan Airlines (JAL) effective December 2, adding to a series of codeshares with leading international carriers.

This new codeshare agreement with JAL will make it the sixth codeshare to be entered into with a member airline of the oneworld alliance, complementing previously concluded codeshares with Malaysia Airlines, Siberia Airlines (S7), Royal Jordanian, Finnair and Qantas.Affording customers even more seamless travel options, SriLankan will connect to the cities of Osaka and Nagoya in Japan via its four-weekly frequencies between Colombo and Tokyo (Narita), as well as via its double-daily services between Colombo and Bangkok.

Sr iLankan Airlines will also codeshare on JAL flights between Tokyo (Narita) and Seoul and Busan in South Korea. In t urn, JAL will codeshare on SriLankan flights to Tokyo (Narita), Bangkok and Male from Colombo.With SriLankan Airlines operating the highest number of frequencies to the popular holiday destination of the Maldives from its key hub Colombo, thereby affording customers even greater connectivity, new travel options have been created for Sri Lankans on the codeshare routes operated by JAL.Passengers will be able to enjoy the convenience of a single ticket itinerary, interlined luggage and opportunities to earn frequent flyer miles travelling in both directions on either carrier.

Significantly, the first of SriLankan Airlines’ seven new Airbus 330-300s on order that was delivered in late October will be primarily utilised on the Tokyo and Bangkok routes.

This new codeshare agreement is expected to boost tourism between Japan and Sri Lanka, coinciding with SriLankan Airlines’ strategy of increasing its presence in new growth markets, whilst JAL aims to strengthen its relationship with SriLankan through oneworld by offering customers and frequent flyers seamless travel and enhanced service benefits.