Delta, Northwest Talk of Joint Sales Venture

Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. may sell tickets on each other’s flights to counter a similar plan by UAL Corp.’s United Airlines and US Airways Group Inc.

Northwest, the fourth-largest U.S. airline, told pilots it’s talking with No. 3 Delta about the partnership, an Air Line Pilots Assn. spokesman said. The airline needs the union’s approval for such a partnership.

Northwest has a similar agreement with Continental Airlines Inc. and probably would include that partnership in an accord with Delta, letting the airlines extend route systems at less cost than an expansion or merger.

A Delta-Northwest partnership would require approval from the Transportation Department.

Delta shares fell 16 cents to $14.59 on the NYSE, while Northwest rose 48 cents to $8.48 on Nasdaq. Continental rose 30 cents to $9.10 on the NYSE.