Under the initial deal the two airlines said BA they will combine booking codes on JAL's daily service between London Heathrow and Osaka Kansai from late this summer and will also combine frequent flyer loyalty programmes. The airlines said in a joint statement they would develop the relationship in various areas.

The deal does not bring JAL into BA's wider `one world'global alliance of airlines but JAL already has bilateral deals with other one world partners which include American Airlines, Qantas, Canadian Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Finnair.

BA chief executive Robert Ayling said that "British Airways is very excited to have secured a relationship with such a prestigious airline in Japan and in doing so we can expand our presence in this crucially important region hand-in-hand with Japan Airlines."

JAL president Isao Kaneko said that "we are delighted to be announcing the beginning of a more substantial relationship with such a leading global airline as British Airways."

JAL and BA have been cooperating on freight services between their two nations since 1977. Cooperation in joint cargo operations and we now intend to build beyond that to create a long term, more comrehensive relationship," Kaneko said. Domestic carrier All Nippon Airways Co, BA's former frequent flyer scheme partner in Japan, has joined the rival global marketing constellation, Star Alliance, which includes United Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS, Air Canada, Thai Airways and Brazilian carrier Varig.