ANA, All Nippon Airways, and EL AL, an Israeli flag carrier, have signed a codeshare agreement and plan to have something for the frequent flier program members.
ANA will place its code on El Al’s flights between Tokyo Narita and Tel Aviv in the spring of 2024, and El Al will place its code on select domestic ANA flights.
You can access ANA here and El Al here.
ANA’s Announcement:
ANA and EL AL Israel Airlines to begin commercial partnership for travel between Israel and Japan
• Codeshare flights will operate on EL AL’s Tel Aviv – Tokyo Narita route beginning Spring 2024
• Future partnership to include reciprocal Frequent Flyer Program to enhance customer benefits
ISTANBUL, June 5, 2023 – All Nippon Airways (ANA) and EL AL Israel Airlines (EL AL) have entered into a commercial agreement marking the beginning of a codeshare partnership to connect Japan and Israel. The partnership will start in Spring 2024 with ANA placing its “NH” code on the EL AL operating flights on the Tel Aviv – Tokyo Narita route, which was inaugurated in March 2023. Subsequently, EL AL will place its “LY” code on select ANA routes, including domestic routes within Japan.
The airlines are also planning to sign a Frequent Flyer Program agreement, enhancing benefits for mileage members traveling between Japan and Israel. Members can expect premium customer services and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits and premium customer benefits as part of the agreement.
“ANA is excited to begin this partnership with EL AL, and we hope that it will provide safe and convenient travel with greater opportunities for both business and leisure passengers between Israel and Japan,” said Shinichi Inoue, President and CEO of ANA. “This partnership will strengthen customer service and connections between our countries and further enhance the relationship that has been growing in all areas for over 70 years.”
“With the launch of the EL AL flights between Tel Aviv and Tokyo Narita, we have seen a great deal of interest of travellers between the two countries. The cooperation between EL AL and ANA is an important element in ensuring the success of this route,” said Dina Ben Tal Ganancia, CEO of EL AL. “We look forward to our codeshare and reciprocal frequent flyer agreement which will bring tremendous benefits to our mutual customers and further strengthen the ties between our two countries.”
Conclusion
It is unclear from the release if the frequent flier benefits only apply to these codeshare routes or if they are planning something more comprehensive from the earning and redeeming perspective.
El Al is a non-aligned airline when it comes to alliances, and ANA is part of Star Alliance but has partnered with other airlines, such as Virgin Atlantic (SkyTeam) and Etihad.
Nothing likely comes out of this from other Star Alliance frequent flier program members than those of ANA, as this is the only alliance that credits flights purely based on the operating airline.
