JAL emerges from bankruptcy as smaller carrier; more reliance on partners

Japan Airlines Corp, following its emergence from bankruptcy administration, will be a smaller company more reliant on Asian routes and global partners (Bloomberg/Kyodo News/Japan Times, 28/29-Mar-2011). The carrier has scaled back its global network and its fleet, involving the grounding of 103 aircraft including its B747 fleet. The carrier has also shed around a third of its workforce. JAL has offset its network and fleet cuts by boosting cooperation with partners in the oneworld alliance, including a venture with American Airlines that is scheduled to commence on 01-Apr-2011 and increased codeshare services with alliance members including Cathay Pacific. Chairman Chairman Kazuo Inamori noted that another key change as part of the restructure is the company culture and attitude. "Finally, the thinking has changed at JAL. People have realised that if we don't take care of things ourselves no one is going to do it for us," he said.