AIRLINES

Northwest Airlines Settles With Machinists: The financially troubled carrier reached agreement with the union on concessions aimed at helping keep Northwest afloat. The Minneapolis-based airline, which last week reached agreement with pilots over $365 million in concessions, has indicated it might file for bankruptcy protection if it fails to cut labor costs by nearly $900 million. The value of concessions agreed to by the machinists was not revealed. The two agreements must still be ratified by union members, and the airline is negotiating with other employee unions.