Japan’s national carrier Japan Airlines (JAL) and India’s low-cost carrier IndiGo have today announced the launch of a code-sharing partnership, starting December 16. The partnership will offer customers enhanced travel options and encourage cultural and trade exchanges between Japan and India. In other words, the strategic partnership will allow JAL to initially expand its connectivity with India, while offering IndiGo customers more travel options on JAL’s extensive domestic and international network in the subsequent phases. IndiGo, which has over 60% market share as India’s leading air carrier, and JAL will start sharing codes on domestic routes in India that connect to JAL-operated flights to/from Delhi and Bengaluru.

Currently, the Japanese airline operates daily services between Tokyo (Haneda) and Delhi and five times weekly services between Tokyo (Narita) and Bengaluru. With this new partnership, it will be able to establish a comprehensive network across India, connecting to many major cities via flights operated by IndiGo.