Northwest pilot leaders approve deal with Delta

Leaders in the pilot union at Northwest Airlines Corp. approved a tentative joint contract with Delta Air Lines Inc. to take effect after the two airlines combine.

The next step is a vote by rank-and-file pilots at both airlines.

The Northwest branch of the Air Line Pilots Association says its Master Executive Council voted unanimously to send the proposed contract to pilots for a vote.

They still need to work out a merged seniority list, and that can be the toughest part of combining two pilot groups. They have agreed on a process for doing the seniority list, and negotiations are expected to start later this summer.

The airlines are aiming to close Delta's acquisition of Northwest by the end of the year.