Monday, March 24, 2025 Japan, Canada, and the US are set for expanded airline ties, with Japan Airlines exploring a joint venture with Alaska Air Group to enhance connectivity and collaboration. Japan Airlines plans expansion of trans-Pacific joint venture to include Alaska Air Group. Japan Airlines (JAL) is exploring the possibility of expanding its long-standing trans-Pacific joint venture with American Airlines to include Alaska Air Group, in a move that could significantly deepen ties between leading carriers across the Pacific.
Ross Leggett, Japan Airlines’ Senior Vice President of Route Marketing and Managing Executive Officer, revealed in an interview with Japanese aviation media outlet Traicy that talks are well underway and progressing steadily. The proposed expansion comes at a time when airline alliances are becoming increasingly crucial in offering passengers greater network reach and seamless travel experiences. Japan Airlines and American Airlines first launched their joint venture in 2011, creating a close-knit trans-Pacific alliance that has since allowed both carriers to coordinate operations across 16 specific routes between Japan and the United States.
Of those routes, 10 are currently operated by JAL and six by American Airlines. The partnership also covers connecting flights within the U.S.
, Japan, and select parts of Asia (excluding India), as well as in Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Alaska Air Group, a U.S.-based holding co.
