Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Lufthansa have signed a wide-ranging partnership agreement that will see the two airline groups operating key routes between Singapore and Europe on a joint-venture basis. The agreement also significantly expands codeshare ties and commercial cooperation.

Flights between Singapore and Frankfurt and Munich, as well as flights between Singapore and Zurich, are to be operated under revenue-sharing arrangements. New SIA-operated flights between Singapore and Düsseldorf, which are to be launched in July 2016, will also be covered under such arrangements.

The two airline groups also intend to cooperate in key markets in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia, coordinating schedules to provide customers more convenient connections between route networks, offering joint fare promotions, aligning corporate programs to strengthen the proposition to corporate customers, and exploring enhancements to existing frequent-flyer program ties.

In addition to SIA and Lufthansa, the agreement includes SIA subsidiary SilkAir, and Lufthansa subsidiaries Austrian Airlines and Swiss.

The expanded codeshare ties will provide SIA customers with convenient access to and from points in Austria, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, via the transfer hubs of Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich, with more than 20 new codeshare routes. Lufthansa and Swiss will in turn codeshare with SIA and regional arm SilkAir on more routes serving destinations in Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific. Codeshare cooperation is expected to be expanded to more destinations in future.

“We are very pleased to have reached agreement for this extensive partnership, which will bring about significant benefits through enhanced connections and more codeshare destinations,” said Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong. “This agreement deepens ties with the wider Lufthansa Group, providing a solid foundation for numerous commercial cooperation opportunities.”

“Our intensified partnership with Singapore Airlines is an excellent addition to our global joint venture network, and is a cornerstone of our Asia strategy,” said ,” said Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. “And all these strategic partnerships will help the Lufthansa Group further consolidate its leading position in all key markets.”