SriLankan Airlines is strengthening its presence in the Japanese travel market with the expansion of its codeshare agreement with oneworld alliance partner Japan Airlines (JAL).

The agreement would introduce six new routes and provide passengers with connectivity on 84 flights a week between Japan and South Asia.

The six new routes, subject to approvals, are: Narita/ Bangkok, Narita/ Singapore, Narita/ Kuala Lumpur, Haneda/ Bangkok, Haneda/ Singapore, Narita/New Delhi- in addition to existing four routes of Kansai (Osaka)/ Bangkok, Nagoya / Bangkok, Nagoya / Narita and Itami (Osaka) / Narita.

The codeshare "will create new choice travel options to South Asia for travellers in more cities across Japan. These flights will be operated on JAL aircraft with both JAL and SriLankan flight numbers," a statement said.

Passengers can connect to Colombo and on to any destination in SriLankans global route network on SriLankan flights from Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi and Tokyo.

This includes the Maldives, a highly popular vacation destination among Japanese tourists. SriLankan is the only international airline operating to Gan Island in the southern end of the Maldives and is also the airline with the highest number of frequencies to the Maldives.

JAL will place its code on SriLankan flights to Colombo from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi, in addition to its current codeshares on SriLankan flights on the Narita (Tokyo) / Colombo Bangkok / Colombo and Colombo / Male sectors.

The enhanced codeshare agreement means that passengers will be able to expand the convenience of a single ticket itinerary, interlined luggage and the ability to earn frequent flyer miles on either airline.

SriLankan has in recent months greatly strengthened its network throughout Asia and the Middle East, in order to better serve the rapidly expanding travel markets of these regions, the airline said.

It has expanded its codeshare agreements, most notably with partner airlines in the prestigious oneworld network. The enhanced codeshare agreement is expected to have a positive effect on tourism and trade between Japan and Sri Lanka.