Alaska Air Group may be added to Japan Airline’sAirline’s (JAL) trans-Pacific joint venture with American Airlines. Ross Leggett, Senior Vice President, said talks are continuing and that he was hopeful about making a formal announcement.
The current joint venture, formed in 2011, operates 16 flights between Japan and the US. American Airlines oversees six of these routes, while Japan Airlines operates 10. Additionally, the agreement includes intra-Asian, domestic US, Canadian, and Mexican routes that connect with these trans-Pacific services.
Both carriers are members of the Oneworld alliance. Alaska Air Group, the holding company for Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, has existing codeshare agreements with Japan Airlines. These arrangements allow shared airline codes on flights between Japan and the US West Coast and Japan Airlines-operated domestic flights.
Japan Airlines also shares codes with Hawaiian Airlines for flights connecting Hawaii and Japan. The US Department of Justice approved Alaska Air Group’s acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in 2024, which could complicate future joint venture agreements.
Antitrust authorities in the US and Japan must approve the expansion if Japan Airlines adds Alaska Air Group to the collaboration. Due to the present joint venture, Asia and North America passengers already have easier travel options and improved connectivity.
Although regulatory obstacles remain a significant barrier, expanding the alliance to include Alaska Air Group could improve travel offers even more. Alaska and American Airlines declined to comment on the potential joint venture expansion but reiterated their commitment to enhancing customer experience. An official announcement could mark a turning point for trans-Pacific travel pending necessary regulatory approvals.
