TOKYO - The Japanese government said on Tuesday it was considering measures to secure money from banks to keep struggling Japan Airlines operating.

Transport minister Seiji Maehara also said the Development Bank of Japan would provide a bridge loan to JAL, though the scale and timing of the loan had not been decided.

The government also said it may consider legislative action to prevent any potential public injection into JAL, Asia's largest carrier by revenue, from being used to cover its huge pension payments. (Reporting by Nobuhiro Kubo)