NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Nov. 19, 2009--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services today said that American Airlines Inc.'s and parent AMR Corp.'s (both B-/Negative/--) attempt to maintain a marketing alliance with Japan Airlines Corp. (JAL; CC/Watch Neg/--) will not affect the ratings or outlook on the companies. While American has made no details of its proposal public, other than its partnership with private equity firm TPG, which has a mostly successful track record of investing in airlines, we expect that American will provide a financial incentive to keep financially ailing JAL in the oneworld alliance. Negotiations on a new U.S.-Japan "open skies" aviation treaty, in which U.S. airlines could allow increased access to serve Japan and routes beyond Japan, are
