Air China and Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) signed a code-sharing agreement in Beijing on Thursday on China-Japan routes operated by both airlines, including cooperation on frequent flyer programs and airport lounge use.

From March 28 this year, Air China and ANA will commence their code-share cooperation and jointly operate 95 flights per week from Beijing and Shanghai to Tokyo and Osaka. ANA's 56 weekly flights from Tokyo and Osaka to Beijing and Shanghai will carry the Air China code. Air China's 39 weekly flights on the same routes will operate under Air China's and ANA's flight numbers.

Both airlines will also inaugurate flights from Hangzhou to Tokyo and to Osaka in their summer schedule, bringing the total code-sharing flights to 105 by April 21.

Air China has already signed individual code-share cooperation agreements with more than 60 international or regional airlines, including Lufthansa, United Airlines, Asiana, Finnair, Austrian Airlines, SAS, Turkish Airlines and Dragon Air.

Air China's President Li Jiaxiang said The code-share cooperation with ANA is an important step taken towards the strategy of expanding bilateral cooperation and globalized operations."

(Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2004)