Japan Airlines Co., which is considering a venture on European routes with British Airways, may also seek a similar tieup with Air France to bolster operations on the continent.
"Our alliance with British Airways is the key," JAL President Masaru Onishi said in an interview at the carrier's Tokyo headquarters Friday. "If we can cover all of Europe with them, which would include Iberia as well, then we won't need other joint ventures. If not, we'll look to other airlines."
JAL may also boost cooperation with other oneworld members, including Finnair Oyj on European routes, Onishi said, as it offsets cuts made to its overseas network during a government-backed restructuring. The carrier has already formed a venture with AMR Corp.'s American Airlines that sets fares, sells tickets and decides schedules on trans-Pacific routes to boost sales and pare costs.