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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

JAL to continue cost-cutting restructuring at expense of safe aviation

Japan Airlines on March 2 announced its mid-term business plan a half month behind schedule due to an internal rift. Without analyzing the cause of aviation-related problems and frequent maintenance errors, the plan puts emphasis on increasing profits by making more cost-cutting efforts.

It also announced changes in its top management, but it will not be able to dispel public concerns about aviation safety unless the airline's management policy is improved drastically.

Behind the current situation in which safe flights are threatened is the government policy of deregulation. Since 1993, JAL has been downsizing its maintenance department, alleging that it does not help make profits. It has outsourced the job to foreign contractors.

Skilled maintenance workers were transferred to other jobs, making it difficult to pass on maintenance skills. The aircraft which a Singaporean servicing company undertook maintenance on turned out to be poorly maintained. Outsourcing the work abroad with the aim of cutting costs more often than not endangers safety.

JAL's labor policy has also brought about discriminatory treatment of cabin attendants causing division among them. The deteriorating work environment is another cause of increasing human errors.
- Akahata, March 3, 2006