Ethiopian, ANA Launch Codeshare Agreement

By Zerihun Getachew

Star Alliance members, Ethiopian Airlines and Japan's leading airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) signed a code-share agreement.

From October 26, 2014, ANA passengers will be able to book connecting flights on Ethiopian Airlines between Addis Ababa and Bangkok, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Paris, London, Nairobi and Mombasa through ANA.

Ethiopian will place its flight code on ANA's Bangkok and Hong Kong routes.

Ethiopian CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, said: 'Our code share partnership will give our customers traveling between Africa and Japan the best possible connectivity options with one ticket and one single check-in at first boarding airport. It will also play critical role in enabling greater people-to-people, investment, trade and tourism ties between a rising Africa, the second fastest growing region in the world, and a highly industrialized Japan, the third largest economy in the world."

Osamu Shinobe, President and CEO of ANA for his part, said: "We are pleased to welcome Ethiopian Airlines which has the largest network in Africa as our code-share partner and look forward to working together to bring our customers greater choice and convenience across our combined Japanese and African networks."

Customers of the two airlines will continue to be able to earn and redeem miles on all flights.

Ethiopian Airlines, a global Pan-African carrier with 70 years history, is currently the largest airline in Africa by revenue, generating 2.4 billion USD in 2014, and profit.

The airline operates to 5 continents, Africa, Europe, North America, South America and Asia. Ethiopian, a technology leader in Africa, is the first outside Japan to receive and operate the B787 in 2012.

Ethiopian received in September 2014 the Passenger Choice Award as the Best Airline in Africa, in the most comprehensive survey of airline passengers conduced in 13 languages.

ANA is the largest airline in Japan by passenger numbers. Founded in 1952, ANA flies today on 72 international routes and 115 domestic routes with a fleet of about 240 aircraft. ANA Group has 33,000 employees.

Ethiopian Airlines and ANA started joint Frequent Flyer Program in December 2011 as both carriers are members of Star Alliance, the largest and oldest global airline alliance.

Source: ANA