Declines in passenger loads and increases in insurance premiums after last month's devastating terrorist attacks in the United States are threats to Japanese airlines as they are to other carriers, but reaction in Japan may not be as drastic.
Meanwhile, the prospect of a large-scale impact on local aircraft builders remains unsure, though their major U.S. partner, Boeing Co., has said it may lay off almost a third of its commercial jet workforce.
Although a major victim, Japan Airlines has no plans to lay off any of its 18,000 employees, said Yoshie Otaka, assistant manager for public relations at JAL, citing the Japanese custom of long-term employment.