oneworld® members and CTW Asia-Pacific Platinum Sponsors Japan Airlines (JAL) and American Airlines (AA) will join hands to foster closer relationships with sought-after corporate travel managers this September in Bangkok, co-hosting a networking luncheon for over 100 buyers.
Since their joint business partnership in 2011, the two airlines have been sharing best practices and cross-cultural insights to enhance their services and flight options currently serving the connections between Asia and North America.
With goals set on driving future growth in the Asia-Pacific market, Japan Airlines and American Airlines have solidified their union by actively participating in joint sales programmes where possible, to increase engagement with valued corporate travel professionals.
Japan Airlines, who is helming the sponsorship at CTW Asia-Pacific 2018, shared their vision for co-hosting an exclusive luncheon and table top showcase. Said Shirley Yuen, Regional Director of Japan Airlines, “We believe this allows us to demonstrate both airlines’ strong partnership and strengthen our relationship with corporate travel buyers together. As the leading corporate travel management conference for the region, CTW gives us privileged access to travel managers, heightens our exposure, and helps us discover challenges and pain-points faced by CTMs through learning at the education sessions.”
American Airlines affirmed the decision, citing the benefits of exclusive facetime with corporate travel managers and the opportunity to meet buyers of choice during business appointments, said Stacey Yocum, Manager, Regional Corporate & TMC Sales, Asia Pacific, American Airlines.
Japan Airlines has been awarded number one in on-time performance among all Asia-Pacific major airlines for the past 6 out of 8 years, recently being certified as a 5-star airline by Skytrax in its annual “Best Airlines in the World” ranking for 2018. With only 11 airlines certified in this category, this unique mark of quality achievement cements JAL’s commitment to the highest levels of flight safety and service quality.
JAL is expected to launch Joint Business with Hawaiian Airlines (HA) in 2019 to facilitate enhanced access to 34 destinations throughout Japan and 11 points in Asia beyond Japan. JAL has also signed a memorandum with China Eastern Airlines to pursue a joint business agreement that will link over 80 of China’s domestic cities with JAL’s network. Come Summer 2020 when the Olympics take place, Japan Airlines will launch a new low cost carrier company as an alternative to mid-to-long haul options.
For American Airlines, the carrier codeshares with 29 airlines including Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Qantas in Asia-Pacific. American is the first U.S. carrier to introduce Premium Economy on international routes and promotes its seamless international to international (ITI) baggage service for customers flying through Dallas Fort Worth.
