Continental Airlines will begin a codesharing agreement with All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (ANA) on routes between the United States and Japan effective March 28. It will be the first time that Continental Airlines has implemented codesharing with a Japanese airline.

Through the arrangement, customers of Continental Airlines and ANA will be able to more conveniently travel between the United States and Japan.

U.S. travelers will be able to conveniently access ANA's network via Continental flights. Continental's flights to U.S. gateway cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago provide connections with ANA's onward flights to Japan. Furthermore, Continental's flights from Houston and New York/Newark to Tokyo/Narita provide convenient connections with ANA's flights to onward points such as Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka and Okinawa.

"Codesharing between Continental and ANA improves on the linkages we established between the two airlines when we first joined Star Alliance," said Continental Airlines Chairman, President and CEO Jeff Smisek. "We look forward to further solidifying our relationship with ANA under our planned Pacific joint venture."

"Working with our partner Continental Airlines, the networks of both airlines will expand through the commencement of this codesharing agreement, and together we can offer our valued customers a wider selection of convenient flight options between Asia and the United States," said Shinichiro Ito, president and chief executive officer of ANA.

This announcement represents the first phase of codesharing cooperation. Both airlines look forward to further expanding codesharing service in a constant effort to provide customers with the most convenient options possible.