Delta Air Lines Inc. is considering making a cash infusion of a couple of hundred million dollars to aid struggling Japan Airlines Corp., a person briefed on the talks said Friday.

In exchange for the infusion, the person said the world's biggest airline operator could get a stake in Japan Airlines, an expanded presence in Japan and access to the closest airport to the Tokyo business center.

The talks were in their preliminary stage, and it was unclear what form a partnership might take, said the person, who asked not to be identified.

Delta subsidiary Northwest Airlines has a history with Japan Airlines, having handled flight operations for the Japanese carrier in the early 1950s, according to JAL's website.

A Delta spokesman declined to comment. A JAL spokesman said it was considering tie-ups with various potential partners.