ALSO. . .

The pilots’ union at Northwest Airlines has signaled its approval for a possible acquisition of Continental Airlines stock and a code-sharing alliance between the two airlines. The union told its members in a recorded phone message over the weekend that it will begin talks with Northwest regarding an alliance with Continental and link a possible pact to the latest negotiations for a new labor contract. St. Paul, Minn.-based Northwest had approached the Air Line Pilots Assn. in December about taking a 14% equity stake in Houston-based Continental and of entering a code-sharing pact. Northwest pilots own 11.5% of the airline.