Press Release

TokyoOctober 9, 2009: Japan Airlines (JAL) will start code sharing on flights operated by Vietnam Airlines (VN) between Fukuoka and Hanoi from October 27, 2009, with reservations and ticket sales starting today.

Vietnam’s sustained high economic growth has continued to attract many foreign investments including from Japanese enterprises, and as a tourist destination, has also been gaining popularity for its unique heritage, art and culture. To meet the rising demand for both business and leisure travel, JAL has been expanding its reach to Vietnam.

JAL operates flights from Tokyo (Narita) to Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, as well as on the route between Osaka (Kansai) and Hanoi. Current code share flights with Vietnam Airlines, which first started in April 1996 with the Osaka (Kansai) - Ho Chi Minh route, also connect passengers from Fukuoka to Ho Chi Minh and Nagoya (Chubu) to Hanoi. Including the new twice-weekly Fukuoka-Hanoi code share service, JAL’s network to Vietnam now spans 7 routes, offering passengers 35 round-trip and 8 one-way* flights a week.

New Fukuoka - Hanoi Code Share Flights

Reference: Time difference from GMT: Fukuoka (+9) / Hanoi (+7). All timings shown are local.

JAL’s Japan=Vietnam Network

JL = Japan Airlines, VN = Vietnam Airlines                           

* Narita - Ho Chi Minh: 7 one way flights / Ho Chi Minh - Narita: 1 one way flight

About Japan Airlines

The JAL Group, Asia’s largest airline group by operating revenue, serves some 220 airports in 35 countries and territories, including 60 airports in Japan. Its international network covers over 250 passenger routes and 28 cargo routes, while its domestic operations include flights on 143 routes.

With around 23,000 employees in the air transport segment, JAL Group operates a fleet of some 270 aircraft including Boeing 747s and 777s and is now in the process of a major fleet renewal, introducing more fuel-efficient small and medium aircraft such as the B737 New Generation series and in the future the new high-tech Boeing 787 "Dreamliner".

JAL First Class offers fully reclining Skysleeper or Skysleeper Solo seats. JAL Executive Class - Seasons, introduces the concept of "quality time" spent on board and features the award-winning JAL Shell Flat Seat that reclines to almost the horizontal and provides a high degree of personal privacy. From December 2007 JAL started offering JAL Premium Economy on key business routes, and from August 2008 started introducing on US routes a luxurious new suite to JAL First Class and the JAL Shell Flat NEO, a leading-edge seat for JAL Executive Class.

Top quality in-flight service has always been the hallmark of JAL's reputation. Cuisine offered in all classes is a combination of Western and Japanese food. JAL carries a fine selection of award-winning wines and sake in First Class and JAL Executive Class - Seasons, JAL's business class. Quality in-flight entertainment systems are a feature of JAL's international fleet aircraft.

A member of the oneworld global alliance since April 2007, JAL offers customers many benefits, such as the JAL Mileage Bank frequent flier program.

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20091009 JAL Expands Codeshare with VN_FINAL.pdf