Micromobility giant Lime has partnered with Japan Airlines (JAL) to give free air miles to riders that use its scooters.
The partnership, which marks Japan’s first mileage collaboration between an airline and electric shared micromobility service, lets riders earn 1 JAL mile for every 100 yen (€0.61) spent on Lime.
Lime’s aim is to expand its presence and ease public transport traffic congestion in Japan – a country where the major cities have seen increased rail congestion rates for a second consecutive year in 2023.
“Our partnership with JAL is aimed at deepening Lime’s presence in Japan via connection with a well-established and deeply-respected brand in the transportation industry,” Lime’s Japan Country Manager Terry Tsai told Zag Daily. “Given the widespread use of JAL’s points system – which consumers can spend on everything from air travel to online shopping – this partnership is a fantastic way to further incentivize zero-emission travel and introduce more new riders to Lime.”
The alliance aims to expand Lime’s port network in Japanese cities after the operator launched its first service in Japan earlier this year in Tokyo.
Local regulations in Japan require riders to begin and end every ride at a ‘port’ which is a privately-owned street-level space leased by operators for e-scooter parking. Last week, Lime launched in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, with 40 ports and 180 e-scooters which marks the first port installation using Japan Airlines’ network.
Japan Airlines is to continue supporting the operator in securing and installing new ports, and the partnership also seeks to develop the short-term rental business for local governments, companies and tourist destinations.
“This first-of-its-kind partnership will introduce Lime micromobility programs in select JAL resort destinations, further familiarising its customers with the convenience and fun Lime provides,” Terry said.
In line with its JAL Vision 2030 initiative, Japan Airlines wants to expand into the Mobility as a Service (MaaS) business and improve local transportation options across the area.
To mark the collaboration, two mileage campaigns are being held until December 31 2024. New users who register JAL mileage membership information in the Lime app will receive 100 bonus miles when they use Lime for the first time, as well as their standard air miles earned from the journey. A second campaign lets users who register their JAL mileage membership in the Lime app earn double the standard miles when they use Lime’s services.
In September, Lime partnered with Japanese insurance company Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance to grow and promote the use of shared e-scooters in Japan. The operator also recently held its First Ride Academy in Naha to teach first-time riders how to use its e-scooters safely.
