Japan Airlines began on August 1, 1951. In 1954, it started international flights. It bought it's first jet aircraft in 1968, the Douglas DC-8. Japan Air System merged with Japan Airlines in 2002. In 2007, it joined the Oneworld alliance. In January 2010, Japan Airlines declared bankruptcy. British Airways and Qantas helped the airline pay off debts. It finally rose from bankruptcy in April 2011. 