Former lawmaker Eitaro Itoyama, the biggest individual shareholder in Japan Airlines Corp., is calling for the resignation of JAL President Toshiyuki Shinmachi, given the carrier's poor business performance, it was learned Tuesday.

It is the first time a major JAL shareholder has demanded the removal of the struggling airline's management.

JAL, which has been hit by safety problems and soaring fuel costs, currently forecasts a net loss of some 47 billion yen for the year ending in March and plans no dividend payouts.