The tentative agreement will be submitted to the AFA’s Northwest Master Executive Council (MEC). The MEC will decide whether to allow flight attendants to vote on the agreement.

Becker continued, “The agreement also includes additional contract modifications that Northwest believes will improve the flight attendants’ work environment. Finally, this agreement allows us to continue to achieve the required $195 million in cost savings needed from our flight attendants.”

“A ratified agreement would allow our flight attendants, along with our other contract and salaried employees, to participate fully in Northwest’s profit sharing programs.”

During the period of the airline’s business plan, which runs through 2010, all contract employees and non-executive salaried employees are expected to receive approximately $1.6 billion in distributions through unsecured claims, profit sharing and a performance incentive plan.

The tentative contract agreement with the AFA will not impact the timetable for the airline’s planned emergence from Chapter 11 protection. Assuming final creditor and court approvals, Northwest expects to complete its restructuring in June of this year.