Japan Airlines (JAL) Cargo has agreed to join forces with Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and the Scandinavian airline SAS.

The agreement to link its freight operations to those of its new partners is set to extend what is already the world's largest cargo alliance.

With the inclusion of JAL Cargo, the WOW air freight alliance would control 17% of the global cargo market.

"We believe that by this strategic step we are able to enhance the global approach of JAL Cargo," said JAL Cargo senior vice-president, Juntaro Shimizu.

Global network

JAL's new partners formed the WOW alliance in April 2000 in an effort to cut costs and improve efficiency by linking their transportation networks and by jointly develop services.

WOW's cargo network would span 523 locations in 103 nations if JAL's network was to be included.

JAL's existing network spans 74 cities in 24 countries.

JAL might be able to hook into WOW's wider infrastructure, though the extent of its cooperation with the alliance has not yet been finalised.

"We have not yet decided if the companies will share their entire networks," said spokesman Tatsuo Yoshimura said.

JAL clocked up profits of 150bn yen ($1.25bn) during the year to March.

JAL shares colosed 2.0% higher at 356 yen in Tokyo on Friday.