TOKYO, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Japan Airlines Corp 9205.T is likely to choose Delta Air Lines DAL.N as its overseas alliance partner, leaving behind its current partner American Airlines AMR.N and the Oneworld alliance group, Japan's Asahi newspaper reported on Friday.
JAL has decided that moving to the SkyTeam alliance would be a bigger advantage for the restructuring and future growth of the debt-laden carrier, the paper said without citing sources.
JAL officials were not immediately available for comment.
American Airlines has said it and other members of the Oneworld airline alliance along with private equity fund TPG are willing to invest $1.1 billion in JAL to prevent it defecting to Delta Air Lines DAL.N and the rival SkyTeam group. [ID:nT194302]
Delta has said that it and other SkyTeam members are ready to offer JAL a total financial aid package of about $1 billion, including a $500 million equity investment. Delta has also said it may also team with a fund to sweeten its proposal. (Reporting by Mariko Katsumura)
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