Hawaiian Airlines Inc., which next month will launch its inaugural service to Japan, has agreed to establish code-share flights with All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd.

Details of what will be Hawaiian’s ninth code-share arrangement are expected to be finalized within four months, said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s CEO and president, who signed a letter of intent Tuesday with ANA executives in Tokyo. The arrangement is subject to government approvals.

"As our negotiating teams get together, we hope to deepen this relationship," Dunkerley told the Star-Advertiser. "This is an important step for everybody. It helps enhance competition and it’ll help attract an increasing number of Japanese visitors, which will have the effect of improving the local economy."

The carriers also are considering frequent-flyer programs and cargo shipping arrangements. Code-sharing generally means that one or both carriers agree to sell seats on the other’s flights and share revenue for those seats.

Hawaiian has code-sharing agreements with American Airlines, American Eagle, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Island Air, Korean Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways.

The company also has various levels of commercial arrangements with most airlines that fly to the islands. It has a tactical partnership with JAL that includes carrying their customers between the Hawaiian islands, Dunkerley said.

"We’ve worked with JAL in the past and intend to work with JAL in the future, but in terms of strategic alliances we found ourselves more in tune with ANA’s objectives and they more in tune with ours," he said.

The agreement with ANA comes as Hawaiian prepares to expand service to Japan — a market it has pursued for years.

Hawaiian won one of four U.S. landing slots for a new runway that will open at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.

Hawaiian will start its first flights between Hawaii and Japan on Nov. 17. ANA will begin service connecting Haneda and Honolulu on Oct. 31.

"Hawaii is the largest market between Japan and (the U.S.) by passengers carried, and is an important leisure market for ANA," Shinichiro Ito, ANA’s president and CEO, said in a joint statement released yesterday. "Our customers will be able to enjoy a wider network among Hawaii islands by this cooperation."