The Japanese government decided to defer, at least for now, a guarantee extending support of ¥700 billion (US$7.9 billion) in loans to cover Japan Airlines debt. The guarantee, to cover 80% of loans that the airline would raise in its recapitalization effort, would have been included in a supplementary budget for the current fiscal year, ending March 31, but will not now be considered before the budget for the following year, according to official leaks to Japanese media.

The Malaysian armed forces are looking for ways to fund an upgrade of their 28 Sikorsky S61 helicopters by the company that maintains them, Airod. The maintenance firm, part of National Aerospace and Defense Industries, says it can improve reliability and performance while lowering running costs by fitting the aircraft with a glass cockpit, composite rotor blades and an improved transmission, all commercially available.

Japan appears to be reversing its earlier position and may now allow daytime transpacific flights from Tokyo Haneda Airport, according to comments from a senior government official. The Japanese government has previously said that expansion slots at Haneda would only be granted during overnight hours for flights to the U.S. and other long-haul destinations. This has been a major point of discussion during U.S.-Japanese Open-Skies talks, which have resumed in Washington, D.C., this week (DAILY, Dec. 7).