TOKYO —

The government said Friday that it has not changed its policy of supporting the turnaround of Japan Airlines Corp and will continue to study a legal measure to guarantee loans by financial institutions to the cash-strapped airline. ‘‘The government is united in working for (JAL’s) solid reconstruction,’’ said a statement by Seiji Maehara, minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism.
   
The statement was released in an apparent effort to allay growing uncertainties after inquiries from abroad and within Japan flooded in on whether the government is backing out from its earlier promise to support Japan’s top airline, which is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.  According to the statement, the government will also continue to study a legal measure for a mandatory reduction in JAL’s pension benefits and will make its final decision after the company receives responses from its retirees by Jan 12, which would show whether the necessary two-thirds of retirees are willing to accept the pension cuts.
   

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3 Comments

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  geodeal at 07:17 AM JST - 26th December

  Back in the day Japan Airlines was one of the worlds premiere airlines. Now it has really gone to pot. All Nippon Airways that used to be 2nd rate is now IchiBan. Bring back the swan, J.A.L.

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  stirfry at 07:44 PM JST - 26th December

  govt has a JAL policy ?

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  borscht at 06:31 PM JST - 27th December

  legal measure for a mandatory reduction

  First, we'll ask our retirees if they'd be willing to make a sacrifice of their pensions so that the company they built won't go bellyup. If they aren't willing, we'll make it a law that they have to. Democracy, I'm loving it.

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