For the first time, Air India and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have decided to enter a codeshare partnership. To be effective May 23, 2024, it will allow passengers aboard both airlines to travel between India and Japan on a single ticket. The tickets, however, are already on sale. The Indian carrier will add the designator code ‘AI’ on ANA flights between Tokyo Haneda and Delhi and Tokyo Narita and Mumbai. Similarly, ANA will add its ‘NH’ code on Air India flights between Tokyo Narita and Delhi.

Besides the added convenience of utilising the network of both airlines on a single ticket, passengers will also benefit from other services, such as lounge access and priority boarding. The carriers have also confirmed that they will continue to explore expansion opportunities for codeshare.

South Korea’s flag carrier, Korean Air, and Canada’s second-largest airline, WestJet, have announced an expansion of their codeshare agreement. On May 17, 2024, the latter will launch a new route between its hub in Calgary, Canada, and Seoul Incheon. Korean Air will begin selling tickets for this service, which will operate three times weekly using Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

WestJet will also benefit from this new agreement. It will get access to flights operated by Korean Air to six new destinations – Bangkok (Thailand), Da Nang (Vietnam), Hanoi (Vietnam), Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam), Hong Kong and Singapore. These connections will be available for WestJet customers via Seoul Incheon, Korean Air’s hub.

The duo first inked a codeshare agreement in 2012. Since then, the carriers have expanded partnerships, covering Korean Air’s flights from Seoul Incheon to Vancouver and Toronto, WestJet’s services within Canada and flights to/from the USA via Vancouver and Toronto. With the Calgary-Seoul connection, the codeshare partnership will increase to 36 routes.

Also Read: Korean Air Announces Charter Services To Taichung

NOTE: Image sourced from Boeing Mediaroom.

For the summer season 2024, Latvian carrier airBaltic has confirmed additional pop-up flights. For the record, pop-up flights operate during a particular period to cater to an increased demand. The new pop-up services include a domestic flight between Riga and Liepaja and a link between Tallinn, Estonia and Palma de Mallorca, Spain, towards the end of summer.

The Riga-Liepaja flight will operate twice a week between July 11 and July 22 and August 1 and August 5. One-way ticket prices are EUR 39 for Economy Classic and EUR 99 for Business Class. The service between Tallinn and Palma de Mallorca will operate once a week, on Mondays. On this route, the one-way ticket prices start at EUR 99.

Before these two pop-up services, airBaltic had announced similar operations from Riga to Ostrava, Czechia. Flights on this route will operate on May 11, 13, 17, 20 and 22. Latvia’s men’s hockey team will be in action on these dates at the IIHF 2024 Ice Hockey World Championship.

Like all other airBaltic flights, the pop-up services will also be provided on an Airbus A220-300.

Also Read: airBaltic Announces Three New Routes For Winter Season

After a four-year hiatus, the UK’s flag carrier, British Airways, has returned to the capital of the UAE. On April 21, 2024, the flight BA073 touched down at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi. This service, provided on a Boeing 787-9, will now be a year-round operation. The resumption of this route for the airline means it can cater to more passengers in the Middle East.

The outbound flight – BA073 – will leave London Heathrow at 22:25 and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 08:30 the next day. After a short stop, the return will depart Zayed International Airport at 10:10 and land in London at 15:30. All times mentioned are local and for the summer season. The arrival and departure times from Abu Dhabi will move 1 hour forward during the winter season.