Skymark Airlines (BC, Tokyo Haneda) is to rebrand itself once its impending restructuring programme kicks off later in the year. Quoting local media sources, the ZipanguFlyer blog says that while Skymark's board is keen to refresh the LCC's battered brand, it is still intent on maintaining "Sky" as part of its new corporate identity.

"We have come a long way, so we want to renew the airline," Skymark's President Masakazu Arimori said. "We can't tell if it will be SKY bee, but SKY will remain part of it."

The debt stricken carrier, whose liabilities are now estimated to stand at JPY284 billion (USD2.36 billion) including USD700 million in claims filed by Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) for a cancelled order of six A380-800s, is in the process of finalizing its selection of strategic partners willing to collaborate with Tokyo-based investment fund, Integral, in its restructuring.

A decision is expected before the end of the current quarter though the selection is still subject to creditor and a Tokyo Bankruptcy court's approval.