U.S., Japan Working on Aviation Pact

U.S. and Japanese government officials expect to announce this week the framework of a new aviation agreement supported by all the major U.S. carriers save one: Northwest Airlines Corp. State Department spokesman Frank Jenista said the U.S. remains optimistic it can reach a tentative aviation pact with Japan this week that would allow U.S. and Japanese airlines significant new access to each other’s countries. There are still several issues to be resolved before negotiators can even reach an agreement in principle, Jenista said. “We don’t want to indicate there’s no negotiating to go,” he said. The two sides are still haggling over pricing, code-sharing alliances and takeoff and landing slots for U.S. carriers at Japanese airports. The talks are scheduled to conclude today, though Jenista said it’s possible they will extend into Thursday. Among U.S. carriers, Northwest is alone in opposing the framework agreement that’s been taking shape over the last three months. Northwest says the agreement is inadequate because it isn’t the fully open air travel regime the U.S. originally sought.