Transportation
Japan Airlines Sticks With American
By Joseph Woelfel 02/09/10 - 03:05 AM ESTAdd Comment
Stock quotes in this article: AMR , DAL *
TOKYO (TheStreet) -- Japan Airlines is sticking with AMR's(AMR Quote) American Airlines, spurning an offer from Delta(DAL Quote) to join its SkyTeam alliance.

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Japan Airlines, in a statement Tuesday, said it would strengthen its partnership with American Airlines and apply to the U.S. and Japanese governments for antitrust immunity on trans-Pacific routes.
JAL and American are members of the Oneworld alliance.

Both American and Delta offered JAL incentives of more than $1 billion to join their respective alliances. But it was believed that a tie-up with Delta wouldn't pass antitrust muster in the U.S., according to reports.

"We have analyzed this issue in great detail, and we are excited at the prospects in terms of the convenience and benefits for our customers," said JAL President Masaru Onishi, in a statement. "We also firmly believe that the advantages of this development with American Airlines can strongly support JAL at a time when we are striving towards the revival of our business, which we are determined to achieve. We certainly look forward to a deeper, more mutually-beneficial relationship with our long-time partner."

JAL, Asia's biggest carrier, filed for bankruptcy in January and is undergoing a restructuring of its debt.