da a.net.
Reuters cita una fonte nipponica.
JAL likely to choose Delta over American - Asahi
JAL likely to leave American and Oneworld for Delta-Asahi
* JAL says not leaning either way, still in talks with both (Updates with details, background)
TOKYO, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Japan Airlines Corp (9205.T) is likely to choose Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) as its overseas partner, ending its ties with American Airlines (AMR.N) and the Oneworld alliance group, Japan's Asahi newspaper reported on Friday.
Japan Airlines strongly denied the report and said it planned to make a decision early next month on whether to stick with American Airlines or defect to Delta and the rival SkyTeam airline group.
"It is absolutely wrong to say that we are leaning either way on the alliance decision at this moment," said JAL spokesman Kojiro Waki.
JAL, Asia's largest airline by revenue, has decided that moving to the SkyTeam alliance would come with more benefits for its restructuring and future growth prospects, the Asahi newspaper said without citing a source for the information.
American Airlines, along with other members of the Oneworld alliance and private equity fund TPG, has offered to invest $1.1 billion in JAL.
Delta has said that it and other SkyTeam members are ready to offer JAL a total financial aid package of about $1 billion, including a $500 million equity investment. Delta has also said it may team with a fund to sweeten its proposal.
"We are still in ongoing discussions with JAL and we continue to maintain that American Airlines' offer is superior to that of any other rival," said Carlo Niederberger, a public relations official representing American Airlines in Japan.
A Delta spokeswoman declined to comment.
JAL, weighed down by $15 billion in debt and struggling to cut a $3.7 billion pension shortfall, is seeking a government bailout from a state-backed turnaround fund. The fund is expected to decide whether to inject capital into JAL next month. (Reporting by Mariko Katsumura and Nathan Layne; Editing by Chris Gallagher)
http://www.reuters.com/article/idCNTOE5BH08D20091218?rpc=44