The Tokyo District Court on Thursday turned down a lawsuit filed by 76 former Japan Airlines pilots seeking continuation of their employment who argue that their dismissal during the course of the carrier's rehabilitation was invalid.
The 76 plaintiffs were 17 former captain pilots and 59 former co-pilots of Japan Airlines which collapsed in 2010.
A three-judge panel led by Presiding Judge Hiroshi Watanabe ruled that JAL's dismissal of the flight crew members was valid.
The plaintiffs had argued that there was no need for JAL to dismiss them, saying that the management set excessive targets for JAL group profits and personnel cuts.
They also insisted that the management's efforts to avoid dismissals, such as salary cuts and job transfers, were insufficient.
In contrast, the management argued that JAL's financial standing was weak and that utmost efforts had been taken to avoid dismissals by soliciting voluntary retirement.
A separate panel of three judges at the court is scheduled to give a decision Friday on a similar suit filed by a group of 72 former JAL cabin attendants who were dismissed in the course of the carrier's rehabilitation process.