Global Airlines Expand Their Reach with New Codeshare Agreement… | kbnmart

reading time: 4 minutes

The global aviation industry is witnessing a major boost in global connectivity with the announcement of new codeshare agreements between major airlines. These strategic partnerships in the aviation industry are set to enhance travel options and provide seamless connections to passengers across various international routes. Delta Air Lines, El Al Israel Airlines, Volaris, Frontier Airlines, KM Malta Airlines, Air France, Korean Air and SriLankan Airlines have launched or renewed codeshare agreements, promising to enhance the travel experience for their customers.

Delta Air Lines and El Al Israel Airlines

Delta Air Lines and El Al Israel Airlines have launched a long-term codeshare agreement, effective December 18, 2023. The partnership is designed to improve connectivity between the Americas and Tel Aviv, allowing Delta customers to access El Al’s direct services from major U.S. cities such as New York-JFK, Newark, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Fort Lauderdale to Tel Aviv. Likewise, El Al’s code will be added to Delta flights and connections through U.S. gateways, including Atlanta, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Las Vegas, Seattle, Dallas and Toronto.

“Delta remains steadfast in its long-standing commitment to serving consumers and businesses who rely on convenient, high-quality air service to and from Tel Aviv,” said Alain Bellemare, president, Delta International. “This partnership will enable passengers to earn and redeem SkyMiles or Matmid points across both airlines, enhancing the frequent flyer experience.”

Volaris and Frontier Airlines

Volaris and Frontier Airlines reactivated their reciprocal codeshare agreement in May 2024, following the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) upgrade of Mexico’s safety status. The partnership, which was initially formed in 2018, was disrupted by the FAA’s downgrading of Mexico’s safety status to Category 2 in May 2021. However, with the restoration of Category 1 status in September 2023, the reciprocal agreement has been fully reactivated.

The renewed codeshare agreement facilitates travel between the United States and Mexico, allowing customers to book connecting flights through both airlines’ websites. “This cooperation not only expands travel options for Frontier customers, but also reinforces Volaris’ commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and offering a wider range of destinations between our two countries,” said Enrique Beltranena, president and CEO of Volaris.

KM Air Malta and Air France

KM Malta Airlines, set to replace Air Malta in 2024, has signed a codeshare agreement with Air France. This strategic partnership aims to facilitate seamless connections between Malta and various destinations in France. KM Malta Airlines, Malta’s new national airline, will offer 19 weekly flights between Malta International Airport and the French capital, serving Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Orly airports.

The agreement will allow passengers to benefit from coordinated flight schedules and enhanced connectivity. A KM Malta Airlines official said: “We are excited to launch our partnership with Air France, which will significantly enhance our network reach and provide more travel options for our passengers.”

Korean Air and Sri Lankan Airlines

Korean Air and SriLankan Airlines have announced the launch of their codeshare partnership, which will come into effect on 15 March 2024. The agreement aims to enhance travel options and connectivity for passengers travelling between Colombo, Sri Lanka and Seoul, South Korea. The partnership also covers key destinations such as Singapore and the Maldives.

Under the new codeshare agreement, SriLankan Airlines will partner with Korean Air’s flights operating between Singapore’s Changi Airport and Incheon International Airport, allowing passengers to travel on a single ticket between Colombo and Seoul via Singapore. Similarly, Korean Air will partner with SriLankan Airlines’ flights between Colombo and cities including Seoul, Singapore, Chennai and Male.

“We are delighted to launch our first ever codeshare partnership with Korean Air and enhance connectivity between Colombo and Seoul,” said Richard Nuttall, CEO of SriLankan Airlines. The partnership is expected to provide enhanced travel convenience and choice to passengers of both airlines.

Benefits of codeshare agreements

Codeshare agreements offer many benefits to both airlines and passengers:

• Expanded road networks: Airlines can offer more destinations without operating additional flights, thus expanding their network.
• Smooth travel experience: Passengers enjoy a smoother travel experience with coordinated flight schedules, individual ticket purchases and checked baggage.
• Frequent flyer benefits: Codeshare partnerships often include reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, allowing travelers to earn and redeem miles across partner airlines.
• Process efficiency: Airlines can improve their operations by filling more seats and increasing flight occupancy rates.

Challenges and Considerations

Although codeshare agreements offer many advantages, they also come with challenges:

• Operational coordination: Synchronizing schedules and operations between different airlines can be complex.
• Required verification: Airlines have to deal with different aviation regulations and safety standards in different countries.
• Customer Service Consistency: Ensuring a consistent level of service across partner airlines can be challenging, which can impact the passenger experience.

The new codeshare agreements between Delta Air Lines and El Al Israel Airlines, Volaris and Frontier Airlines, KM Malta and Air France, Korean Air and SriLankan Airlines represent a strategic step towards enhancing global connectivity and offering passengers more travel options. These partnerships are set to provide seamless travel experiences, expanded route networks and enhanced operational efficiency, underscoring the importance of collaboration in the aviation industry.