Northwest, pilots settle

NEW YORK (CNNfn) -- Northwest Airlines Corp. reached a tentative deal Thursday with its striking pilots union and said it hopes to get its jets back in the air within three or four days.

President Clinton said the nation's fourth largest airline and representatives of the Northwest Air Line Pilots Association reached a deal Thursday, potentially ending the 13-day walkout

Although Northwest and the union had yet to make their official announcement, President Clinton made a short statement Thursday saying the two sides had reached "terms that form the basis for an agreement."

"Earlier in the day I spoke to the leaders of both parties and told them how important this negotiated agreement is to our country and economy. I'm pleased they have worked so hard to make this happen," he said.

Northwest said it would take three or four days to restore partial service and eight to 10 days before full operations resume.

The master executive council of Northwest's union is scheduled to meet Saturday to consider the agreement. If the council votes to approve the deal, it will go to the pilots for a vote.

The union said pilots would remain on strike under the council makes its recommendation.

Previously, the airline canceled domestic flights through Sunday and inbound flights from Europe and Asia were canceled through Monday.

Northwest's 6,200 pilots struck the airline on Aug. 28 after negotiating for a contract for more than two years.

The airline has said the strike was costing Northwest $26 million a day. Also, 30,000 of the company's 50,000 employees have been on temporary leave since the strike began.