Two of the most popular airlines between Hawai'i and Japan today signed a comprehensive new partnership agreement that will greatly enhance the ease and comfort of travel for passengers traveling between the two island chains. The agreement between Hawaiian Airlines and Japan Airlines, signed at a ceremony in Tokyo, takes effect March 25, 2018 (subject to government approval). The agreement provides for extensive code sharing, lounge access and frequent flyer program reciprocity.

"We are delighted to partner with Japan Airlines for our long-term future in Japan," said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian Airlines' president and chief executive officer. "Japan Airlines embodies the welcoming culture of Japan and is renowned for the quality of its services. Our partnership will greatly increase travel choices for those in Japan looking to travel to Hawaii as well as for those in Hawaii looking to travel to Japan."

"Hawaiian Airlines is well known among Japanese travelers for its warm hospitality and its excellent record for punctuality and safety," said Yoshiharu Ueki, President of Japan Airlines. "We look forward to providing our passengers with additional options of exceptional service and comfortable travel to and throughout the Hawaiian Islands."

As part of this comprehensive partnership, the two carriers also intend to establish a joint venture designed to provide even more choices, convenience and enhancements to the traveling public to/from Japan and beyond to multiple Asian markets.

In the near-term:

• JAL guests will have unlimited access to Hawaiian's vast neighbor island and Japan-Hawai'i network, including non-stop flights between Sapporo and Honolulu.
• Hawaiian Airlines will have full access to JAL's domestic network, which includes Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sendai and Aomori.
• Hawaiian's Japan-to-Hawai'i flights will be offered as new options within Japan Airlines' wholly owned subsidiary, JALPAK, a high reputable package tour operator in Japan.
• JAL Mileage Bank and HawaiianMiles members will be able to earn miles on the codeshare flights. Further opportunities for accrual and redemption of mileage will be expanded at a later date.
• Guests will have access to both airlines' lounges, and when Hawaiian has completed its planned relocation to Terminal 2 at Tokyo Narita Airport, guests of each airline will be able to seamlessly transfer between each carrier's networks.