"I express my deepest apologies to our passengers for our unfavourable measures during unplanned conditions, questionable services, lack of an explanation and inadequate treatment of the complaints," said Hiroyuki Funayama, senior vice-president of JAL Sunday, who came to Beijing specifically to apologize to Chinese passengers in the widely publicized case.

Meanwhile, an "appropriate" sum of money was paid by JAL to the Chinese passengers as compensations. However, neither side would disclose the exact amount, saying that since it is not a judicial decision, it should not be regarded as a precedent for solving such international disputes.

There has been speculation that the amount is higher than the 1,500 yuan (US$181) per person compensation paid by Japan's All Nippon Airways this month to another group of Chinese passengers for similar reasons.

On January 27, Flight JL782 left Beijing for Tokyo but was forced to land in Osaka in the evening due to heavy snow in Tokyo. As a result of spending an unpleasant night in the waiting hall, 90 Chinese passengers submitted written complaints to the China Consumers' Association in February.

Meanwhile, the passengers also prepared to bring a group law suit against the Japanese company for poor service and mistreatment.

"We accept the formal apology by JAL and welcome the company's wholehearted attitude to solve the dispute," said Li Hao, a Tianjin-based passenger representative for the flight.

JAL President Kaneko Isao arrived in Beijing Sunday, where he will deliver a formal apology Monday to Chinese passengers and communicate with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japanese Embassy.

The settlement of the dispute has established a precedent for unofficially resolving international commercial disputes, according to Yang Shukun, secretary-general of the China Consumers' Association, who presided over yesterday's signing ceremony.

(China Daily 07/30/2001)