GroundSupportWorldWide.com |

ATLANTA --

Delta Air Lines Inc., still smarting from its failed bid to lure Japan Airlines into a partnership, is talking to other carriers about expanding its global alliances, a senior executive said Tuesday without giving specifics.

President Ed Bastian told investors at the JP Morgan Aviation, Transportation & Defense Conference in New York that Delta still believes it can increase its international presence without JAL in its fold.

"While we were not the victor in the JAL sweepstakes, we are undeterred," Bastian said.

New York is a key focus for Delta as it seeks to expand domestically and internationally. Delta has a deal with US Airways to swap takeoff and landing slots at LaGuardia Airport, and it is encouraging officials to upgrade the facilities at John F. Kennedy International Airport for its international flights.

Last month, Japan Airlines spurned the world's biggest carrier and opted to keep its alliance with American Airlines. The Japanese carrier said it will strengthen its partnership with American. The two airlines are seeking government approval to work closer together to coordinate schedules on trans-Pacific flights, share revenue and carry each other's passengers - all moves that can boost profits.

Separately, the US government said in February that Delta and US Airways can swap takeoff and landing slots at airports in New York and Washington, if they sell some of the slots to protect competition.

The two airlines said that if the order is implemented as proposed, they don't expect the deal to go forward.

A slot is an interval of time during which an airline can takeoff or land its aircraft at an airport. Slots, especially at peak times of day and in busy corridors like the Northeast, are valuable to airlines.