Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) says it will outsource some air cargo flights to US freight airline company ABX Air to help it expand its cargo business, Reuters reported.

ANA said the deal would mark the first time a Japanese airline has outsourced cargo flights to a foreign firm.

In a statement, ANA said ABX Air would operate 22 round-trip flights starting on May 15. Most of the flights will be between Kansai International Airport in Osaka and a handful of major cities including Beijing,