Still In The Running For A Partnership Agreement

Japan Airlines has entered into a court-led financial restructuring arrangement under the guidance of the Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation of Japan (ETIC).  Under the terms of the arrangement, Reuters reports that JAL will shed over 15,000 employees, cut domestic and international routes, and retire some of its less fuel-efficient planes in an effort to return to profitability.

Delta Air Lines and SkyTeam, which still hopes to bring JAL under the SkyTeam umbrella, issued the following statement Monday in response restructuring announcement:

"Delta and SkyTeam fully support Japan Airlines and stand ready to provide assistance and support in any way possible. Delta fully expects that JAL, with the support of ETIC, will be successful in its restructuring and return the airline to a position of prominence. Delta went through a similar restructuring process, and as a result emerged in 2007 as one of the most financially sound and the world's largest airline.

"JAL customers should continue to book their travel on the flagship carrier of Japan as they will not notice any impact to service as a result of the restructuring.

"Delta has been in discussion with JAL in hopes of forming a strategic SkyTeam partnership that would provide significant benefits for JAL and all of its stakeholders."

SkyTeam members include Aeroflot Russian Airlines, AeroMexico, Air France KLM, Alitalia, China Southern, Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, Air Europa, and Kenya Airways.

FMI: www.jal.com, www.skyteam.com