Northwest Fate May Hang on Judge's Decision

"Our goal remains a consensual agreement," he said.

Separately, Gropper approved renegotiated leases on one Boeing 747 and one 757. Also Northwest was allowed to enter a new financing agreement for 11 other planes - nine 757s and two 747s.

Northwest spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch declined to specify how much the carrier will save through the renegotiation of the leases and financing agreements.

Many carriers lease their planes, and those costly leases are often among the first contracts that carriers seek to renegotiate in bankruptcy.

Also, the judge approved a settlement between Northwest and Sabre Holdings Corp. Sabre manages a computer reservation system. Its dispute with Northwest over fees paid by the airline for tickets purchased on the Sabre system was resolved in January.

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Associated Press Writer Aleksandrs Rozens in New York contributed to this report.

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