Application covers Malaysia-related passenger services, including direct and indirect Japan connections
The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) is reviewing an application by Singapore Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) in relation to a proposed joint venture covering scheduled air passenger services across several markets, including Malaysia. The reference number stated in the filing is CAAM/ENC/COMP/IE/2026(04), and the application was received on 16 March 2026.
According to the application summary published by CAAM, the filing concerns an individual exemption under Section 36Q of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia Act 2017. The proposed arrangement covers scheduled passenger services between Japan, Singapore, Australia, India, Indonesia and Malaysia, and remains subject to approvals from the relevant authorities, including CAAM.
The supporting information attached to the application includes a route diagram and route tables setting out the structure of the proposed joint venture as it relates to Malaysia and Japan.
One table lists ANA’s direct service between Malaysia and Japan as Kuala Lumpur-Tokyo, covering Narita and Haneda. Another lists Singapore Airlines’ indirect services between Malaysia and Japan, including city pairs involving Kuala Lumpur and Penang via Singapore to destinations such as Sapporo Chitose, Fukuoka, Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka Kansai. A separate table compares overlapping indirect services currently offered by the two airlines.
Joint venture application sets out coordination across the covered markets
The application was submitted by Singapore Airlines Limited and All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. It states that no other subsidiaries of either airline are parties to the agreement, except for specific flights operated by Air Japan Co., Ltd. and ANA Wings Co., Ltd. where those operators are entrusted by ANA to operate on its behalf.
Under the proposed joint venture, the two airlines said they would coordinate fares, sales, marketing, networks, scheduling, capacity, inventory and management strategies across the joint venture markets. The application also includes revenue sharing on flights operated by Singapore Airlines and ANA that are flown direct and non-stop to and from, or within, those markets, as well as performance measurement of passenger revenue on routes within the joint venture markets.
Malaysia-Japan passenger flows are a key part of the filing
For Malaysia, the application sets out both direct and indirect passenger services between Malaysia and Japan.
ANA states that it operates direct services between Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo, covering Narita and Haneda. It also states that ANA provides indirect services between Kuala Lumpur and other cities in Japan through onward connections via Tokyo, and does not serve any other airport in Malaysia.
The filing further states that ANA operates one-stop services from Kuala Lumpur to 39 domestic destinations in Japan through onward connections in Tokyo. It also states that ANA does not operate services between Malaysia and Singapore, although discussions are underway for ANA to implement codeshares on Singapore Airlines-operated flights between Malaysia and Singapore.
Singapore Airlines, meanwhile, states that it does not operate direct flights between Malaysia and Japan. Instead, its Malaysia-Japan offering is built around flights between Malaysia and Singapore and flights between Singapore and Japan.
According to the filing, Singapore Airlines operates direct non-stop services involving Kuala Lumpur and Penang on the Malaysia-Singapore sector, while also operating six direct non-stop services between Singapore and five destinations in Japan. The filing also states that Singapore Airlines codeshares on ANA-operated services to 30 destinations in Japan, including Tokyo Narita and Tokyo Haneda.
Applicants cite connectivity, fare options and network benefits
In the application, the two airlines said the joint venture is intended to create efficiencies that neither carrier could achieve on its own. They also said the arrangement would allow them to build on existing codeshare cooperation and offer additional value across the covered markets.
Among the benefits cited for Malaysian travellers are an enhanced air travel product for Malaysia-Japan services, improved connectivity through expanded virtual networks, network optimisation through joint venture activities, more competitive fares through the reduction of double marginalisation, a wider selection of fare products, benefits for corporate account customers, and benefits for members of both airlines’ frequent flyer programmes.
Application says overlap is limited to indirect services
A key part of the filing concerns the extent of overlap between the two airlines on Malaysia-related services. According to the application summary, Singapore Airlines and ANA overlap only indirectly on services where one or both carriers operate one-stop itineraries.
One example identified in the filing is Kuala Lumpur-Tokyo, where ANA operates direct services while Singapore Airlines competes through one-stop services. The application also identifies overlapping indirect services between Kuala Lumpur and Nagoya, Osaka Kansai, Fukuoka and Sapporo Chitose. It adds that other indirect origin-destination services between Kuala Lumpur or Penang and 30 destinations within Japan necessarily include a sector from those overlapping indirect routes.
The applicants said the proposed joint venture would not have an adverse effect on actual or potential competition, citing limited competition between the two airlines in relation to services to and from Malaysia.
Supporting tables outline direct, indirect and overlapping routes
The supporting information attached to the application includes a route diagram and route tables setting out the structure of the proposed joint venture as it relates to Malaysia and Japan.
One table lists ANA’s direct service between Malaysia and Japan as Kuala Lumpur-Tokyo, covering Narita and Haneda. Another lists Singapore Airlines’ indirect services between Malaysia and Japan, including city pairs involving Kuala Lumpur and Penang via Singapore to destinations such as Sapporo Chitose, Fukuoka, Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka Kansai. A separate table compares overlapping indirect services currently offered by the two airlines.
CAAM invites written feedback by 1 April 2026
CAAM said written feedback may be submitted in relation to the individual exemption application covering the proposed joint venture between Singapore Airlines and ANA. According to the consultation notice, feedback should be submitted to CAAM by 1 April 2026.
Where a submission contains confidential information, the submitting party is required to clearly identify that material and provide a non-confidential version with the confidential portions removed and replaced with “[CONFIDENTIAL]”
