Northwest, pilots agree to one-year contract extension

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Northwest Airlines tentatively agreed Saturday to extend its pilots' contract one year, putting off further negotiations until industry conditions improve. <br><br>Five weeks ago,

Sunday, April 28th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ Northwest Airlines tentatively agreed Saturday to extend its pilots' contract one year, putting off further negotiations until industry conditions improve.

Five weeks ago, the Air Line Pilots Association asked Northwest for the extension. The contract, which would have expired on Sept. 13, will now run until Sept. 13, 2003.

Northwest will give pilots a 4.5 percent pay increase this September and a 5.5 percent increase in September 2003. Both sides also agreed to begin new talks next January.

The tentative pact must be approved by the union's executive council, which meets Tuesday, and ratified by members. The union represents 6,500 pilots.