What happened
Japan Airlines bought an undisclosed stake in Hanjin KAL, Korean Air’s parent, and the carriers plan a closer bilateral partnership. It is Japan Airlines’ first investment in a foreign airline. The two airlines already codeshare between South Korea and Japan, where limited Tokyo Haneda slots and Tokyo Narita traffic define the market, and will start with closer passenger and cargo work.
Korean Air is in SkyTeam with a Delta joint venture. Japan Airlines is in oneworld with an American joint venture. Delta had already invested in Hanjin KAL. Nothing announced points to a transpacific joint venture or an alliance switch.
Earning and redemption reciprocity between the two is possible even without a joint venture. Near-term change is more likely on Japan-South Korea trips than on transpacific flying.
Nothing to book or register, but watch partnership details for changes to Japan-South Korea awards and elite benefits.
- Numbers
- 1%: how close Hanjin KAL’s second-largest shareholder is to matching the largest stake
- 10%+: Korean Development Bank stake in Hanjin KAL that could be sold
- Where
- Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita, Japan, South Korea
- Takeaway
- There is nothing to book or register for; watch for partnership details that could change Japan–Korea awards and elite benefits.