ATLANTA, April 11 (UPI) -- Delta Airlines Inc. and its pilots union reached an agreement that could allow merger talks with Northwest Airlines Corp. to resume, U.S. sources said.
The agreement is tentative, Crain's Business Journal reported.
The agreement, which may be announced Monday, could be the catalyst for a merger between United Airlines and Continental Airlines, Inc., the report said.
Continental has said it would consider a merger if Delta and Northwest consummated a deal.
Washington lobbyist Steve Hart said any merger should be announced by May 30 "or there's no way to get a deal through" in time for the U.S. Department to review it before President George Bush leaves office.
A change in administration would, otherwise, delay any decision on a merger, analysts said.
