United Airlines - Continental Airlines Merger Highlights

It's official - United Airlines and Continental Airlines announced their intention to merge as "equals" on May 3, 2010. If the merger goes through, it will be the largest airline in the world. The intended merger is set to be an all-stock deal, a deal of equals in the sense that it will not be seen as one airline taking over the other.

A few of the highlights of what a merged United-Continental Airlines airline will look like:

• 370 destinations in 59 countries - the plan is to maintain these routes.
• United Airlines would be the name for the combined airline, the Continental logo would be maintained, and continued to be used as the livery on the combined airline's aircraft.
• The airline would be based in Chicago (United's current headquarters - Continental's is in Houston).
• Continental CEO Jeffrey Smisek would be its chief executive and United CEO Glenn Tilton its non-executive chairman.
• Both airlines are members of Star Alliance, this would continue as a merged airline.
• Expected completion of the merger is the 4th quarter of 2010.