Carriers ANA and United Airlines have teamed up to offer a business travel programme for SMEs in Asia.
The two airlines have launched the Asia Joint Venture Simple programme which provides discount fares for flights to North, Central and South America for small and medium sized businesses in the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
It is available for customers travelling on business for their companies.
"SMEs play a vital role in our local and regional economies. We’re delighted to support SMEs with this new program," said Alison Espley, United Airlines managing director of sales for Japan and Asia-Pacific.
Espley notes SMEs make up 90% of all businesses in Asia Pacific and employ up to 80% of the entire private sector workforce.
"We believe that this program will prove highly popular with our current and future SME customers, who represent an important section of the global business community," said Mitsuo Tomita, ANA’s vice president of marketing.
Differing from other similar corporate programmes in the airline industry, there is no minimum revenue required for companies to qualify.
The trans-pacific network operated by ANA and United connects to more than 200 destinations in the Americas.
