Japan Airlines, the struggling carrier, was yesterday thrown a temporary lifeline after the Japanese government agreed to double a state-sponsored credit line to Y200bn ($2.1bn).
The government asked the Development Bank of Japan to raise its commitment facility to JAL after ministers including Seiji Maehara, transport minister, and Naoto Kan, deputy prime minister, met to discuss how Tokyo could further support the ailing airline.
The DBJ, which is 100 per cent owned by the Japanese government, said it would consider the request and come to a decision as soon as possible “in order to co-operate with the safe operation” of the carrier.