Japanese govt still mulling fund guarantees to Japan Airlines

The Japanese government is still considering guaranteeing funding to Japan Airlines Corp, transport minister Seiji Maehara told a regular news conference on Friday.

Finance minister Hirohisa Fujii said earlier this week that the government would not guarantee loans and other funding to JAL.

"Any guarantee is not likely to be included in the next fiscal year's budget, but we are still considering a way to provide it," Maehara said.

Since Fujii's remarks, the government has received inquiries from various industries over whether the government's policy towards JAL had changed, Maehara said.

"Our policy to back up JAL has not changed," Maehara said.