TokyoTomo Travel Guide

Japan Airlines decided on February 9 to keep its partnership with American Airlines and remain in the Oneworld alliance. JAL’s public relations office explained that it is the best possible scenario for the airline to continue to reinforce its cooperative ties with its present alliance partner in order to stabilize and rejuvenate its business conditions and turn around the company without any further delay. In the days ahead, both JAL and American Airlines are expected to apply to the respective regulators for the anti-trust immunity (ATI) on the Pacific route. While American Airlines will file for ATI with the US authorities by mid-February, JAL plans to proceed with its filing “in consultation with the local authorities concerned.”

Following the decision by Japan Airline to stay with American Airlines, the airline (AA) issued a comment quoting Gerald Arpey, American Airlines’ Chairman and CEO, as emphasizing, “The decision this time is vitally important for both Japan Airlines and Japanese government and it is also the best possible scenario for JAL’s stakeholders, Japan’s own national interests and valued customers traveling between Japan and USA.” “American Airlines is looking forward to providing Japan Airlines with necessary support for the ongoing rehabilitation,” added Arpey. With regards to filing of the ATI, the anti-trust immunity, he mentioned that American Airlines will start to prepare for the applications within the next few days in coordination with JAL’s new management.

Meanwhile, Delta Airlines commented that it will continue to remain as the largest airline serving between USA and Asia, operating direct flights to 10 destinations in USA, nine in Asia and two in Micronesia from Tokyo Narita, which is its Asian hub. It expects the valued customers to continue to use its excellent route network to USA and Asia from Japan, added Delta.

Source: Travel Vision

Travel Vision Inc. provides information on the travel industry in Japan via "Daily Travel Vision", a Japanese-language e-mail newsletter, and the "Travel Vision" website. There are nearly 110,000 people working in the Japanese travel industry, and Travel Vision is proud to be bringing travel news to more than 30,000 people through Daily Travel Vision.