COMPANIES

Northwest May Buy Into Qantas: The Minneapolis-based airline may obtain as much as 35% of the Australian carrier, NWA Chairman Alfred A. Checchi said. Checchi, who flew to Sydney for talks with Qantas executives and government officials, said Northwest will file an expression of interest with the government by Wednesday. The government has decided to sell up to 49% of the state-owned airline, with foreign carriers being offered a maximum of 35%.