Japan Airlines lands codeshare deal with India's IndiGo

Japan Airlines will begin codeshare flights with India's top carrier IndiGo in October, a move that will improve access for travelers to and from the world's fastest-growing major economy. The deal, which lets the airlines sell tickets on each other's flights, was reached here Sunday and marks JAL's first new international partnership since the COVID-19 pandemic. It will cover flights will on two international routes: from Tokyo's Haneda Airport to Delhi and from Narita Airport to Bengaluru. The domestic routes have yet to be selected from IndiGo's network in India. JAL had been looking for a new partner in India after Vistara, with which it began codesharing in 2019, agreed to merge with Air India. IndiGo debuted in 2006 as a budget airline and now offers more than 2,000 daily flights to over 80 destinations in India and more than 30 international cities. It held a commanding 60.5% share of passengers on domestic routes last year, according to India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation. That put IndiGo far ahead of second-ranked Air India, which reached a codeshare agreement with JAL rival All Nippon Airways in April. Air India had a 9.7% share, followed by Vistara at 9.1%. IndiGo has stepped up its pursuit of growth with an order last year for 500 new Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline plans to introduce business class service this year. The International Monetary Fund forecasts India's economy will grow 6.8% in 2024, outpacing China's 4.6% and the U.S.'s 2.7% for the fastest pace of any big economy.<br/>