All Nippon Airways Eyes Partnership with Philippine Airlines

All Nippon Airways of Japan is eager to partner with Philippine Airlines in order to access the carrier's vast domestic network. A company executive revealed last week that talks are currently under way regarding a special partnership that would be mutually beneficial for both airlines.

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"We can cooperate with Philippine Airlines, like maybe a special cooperation agreement with them," said Hideaki Izumi, ANA General Manager for Manila. "It's going to be a mutual benefit. But there's nothing final yet."

Izumi added that any possible code-sharing deal would be a company decision and that talks regarding a code-share agreement are still at the exploratory stage and not part of the current discussions on a special partnership. "I'm not sure yet about the details," said Izumi. "They need our domestic flights and we need their domestic flights."

If a partnership is formed, passengers from ANA would be able to transfer onto PAL flights in Manila bound for domestic destinations throughout the country while passengers of Philippine Airlines could transfer to ANA's extensive domestic network in Japan from hubs at Tokyo Haneda or Tokyo Narita.

A code-share arrangement is a commercial agreement between two airlines that permit passengers to use a ticket from one airline to travel on another carrier. All Nippon Airways currently has no flight entitlements or rights to bring passengers to other Philippine cities outside of Manila. All Nippon Airways is the eighth largest airline in the world in terms of revenue and the largest in Japan in terms of passenger volume. 

Last year, it was reported that All Nippon Airways may be considering an investment in Philippine Airlines. But the Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation reported that such a partnership would have limited synergies. PAL President Ramon Ang announced earlier this year that ANA was no longer interested in investing with Philippine Airlines and was interested in pursuing a partnership instead. 

All Nippon Airways began serving the Philippines with daily flights between Manila and Tokyo Narita three years ago. The Japanese carrier recently launched a new service from Manila to Tokyo Haneda. Plans call for the new Manila-Haneda service to be operated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. ANA is currently the only foreign carrier operating from NAIA Terminal 3.