US-Japan reach open skies deal. Star in box seat, battle for Japan Airlines to intensify

The US and Japan have reached agreement on the text of a landmark open skies aviation agreement, which, once finalised, will liberalise US-Japan air services for the carriers of both countries and set in motion the final stages of an alliance tussle over Japan Airlines (JAL) that will re-shape North Asian aviation. The clock is now ticking for American/oneworld and Delta/SkyTeam to sew up a deal with JAL, but complex factors in JAL's own turnaround plan, including painful pension reforms, are expected to slow progress. United, ANA and Continental have a much smoother path and could gain considerable advantages from an earlier grant of antitrust immunity for their Pacific alliance.