OREANDA-NEWS. June 06, 2011. ANA, Japan's largest airline, and Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Europe's leading airline, are announcing that they are launching a strategic joint venture with each other on Japan-Europe routes after ANA receiving Anti-Trust Immunity (ATI) approval from the Japanese Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport. This latest agreement between the two Star Alliance members follows the launch of a similar joint venture between ANA and United Airlines on trans-Pacific routes in April.

The joint venture with Lufthansa will improve the level of service offered to passengers by allowing ANA and Lufthansa to work together on schedule coordination and joint product sales. Customers will benefit from seamless transfers and better connections. The two carriers aim to introduce the new joint venture within the 2011 winter timetable.

Shinichiro Ito, ANA President and CEO, said: "I'm delighted that we have received official approval to operate the only joint venture on Japan-Europe routes. This agreement will further improve the level of service we offer to passengers and boost our company's international competitiveness."

Christoph Franz, Chairman of the Executive Board & Chief Executive Officer Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said: “This approval marks a great step forward for our customers. Optimised flight schedules will better enable them in future to plan their trips between Japan and Europe. We look forward to this opportunity to consolidate our cooperation with ANA, which signifies a further milestone that will bring the two economic areas closer together. After the tragic earthquake, the go-ahead for our joint venture is a sign that Japan is looking to the future.”