Transport min: JAL's issues are loans, pensions

TOKYO, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Major issues challenging Japan Airlines Corp (9205.T) are bridge loans and pension cuts, Japanese transport minister Seiji Maehara said on Tuesday.

Japan's government is scrambling to find a solution for cutting JAL's pension shortfall and secure short-term financing before the troubled carrier announces its first-half results on Nov. 13.

The Nikkei business daily reported on Saturday that the government plans to introduce legislation to forcibly cut the pension payouts, while the Asahi newspaper said that creditors are in the final stages of deliberations to offer more than 100 billion yen in bridge loans providing that the government announces its support for cutting pension payouts. [ID:nT137536]

JAL said last month that it would apply for aid from a state-backed turnaround fund, setting the stage for an injection of public funds into the airline, providing it can secure the backing of creditors and craft a viable restructuring plan. [ID:nT349661] (Reporting by Nobuhiro Kubo)