Japan Airlines Corp. CEO and Chairman Kazuo Inamori on Tuesday dismissed the possibility of a merger with another airline in the near future, stressing that the former flagship carrier will exit ongoing court-led restructuring as an independent corporation.

"I am now working to restructure JAL, based on my belief that there should be two (large Japanese) carriers," Inamori told reporters at the Japan National Press Club. "With only one carrier, the price of tickets might go very high. To avoid this situation, JAL must fully revitalize and have fair competition with All Nippon Airways."

Inamori said JAL isn't thinking of going the merger route, at least "for the next few years," but added this may change as time passes and the environment evolves.