United, Continental on track for a deal this week

Posted April 27, 2010 at 9:08 a.m.

By Julie Johnsson | Two
years ago, Continental Airlines’ board ended merger talks with United
Airlines after the Chicago-based carrier reported unexpectedly poor
quarterly results. But United’s financial strength is no longer an issue as the carriers
redouble their efforts to complete a deal to form the world’s largest
airline.
 
A source close to the talks told the Tribune that the carriers remain
on track to wrap up a deal during the next few days and that price is the
only major issue yet to be resolved.


The merged carrier would keep the United brand, which has far greater
name recognition overseas than does Continental, sources said.
 
The new company would be headquartered in Chicago and led by
Continental CEO Jeff Smisek. Glenn Tilton would move to the carrier’s
board as non-executive chairman. Other senior management positions are
still being decided and executives will be culled from both carriers, a
source told the Tribune.

 

12 comments:

  1. BRIAN77008 April 27, 2010 at 2:37 pm

    Hopefully this deal falls through.

  2. ARODRIGUEZ April 27, 2010 at 3:26 pm

    I hope the new UAL Corporation keeps Kathryn Mikells as CFO, the CFO of Continental is doing no good for CO’s bottom line. Bring on the new United

  3. Victor Bretones April 27, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    i hope to god the deal doesnt go i live near ewr i love co my home airline

  4. Victor Bretones April 27, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    i hope to god the deal doesnt go i live near ewr i love co my home airline

  5. Victor Bretones April 27, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    i hope to god the deal doesnt go i live near ewr i love co my home airline

  6. Victor Bretones April 27, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    i hope to god the deal doesnt go i live near ewr i love co my home airline

  7. Victor Bretones April 27, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    i hope to god the deal doesnt go i live near ewr i love co my home airline

  8. Victor Bretones April 27, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    i hope to god the deal doesnt go i live near ewr i love co my home airline

  9. Victor Bretones April 27, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    i hope to god the deal doesnt go i live near ewr i love co my home airline

  10. Victor Bretones April 27, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    i hope to god the deal doesnt go i live near ewr i love co my home airline

  11. DavidD April 27, 2010 at 9:56 pm

    Well there goes all the benefits of flying Continental. After 10 years as a OnePass Platinum member I’ll now have to get used to club membership where I pay for drinks, fly a fleet where half the aircraft are ancient, endure surly staff ( memories of three recent United flights )and now have to fly 100k a year to reach top status. Hopefully when I fly again next week the loyal Continental staff will but a better spin on this than I can can come up with.

  12. Bev Gren April 28, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    What a disaster. We were an Eastern Airlines family until Mr. Lorenzo acquired the airline and bankrupted it. We nearly starved to death–two years without a job. Continental picked up the former Eastern pilots and just as we are having job security with a wonderful airline, here we go again. Leave well enough alone–it’s always the “Chiefs” who make the gajjillion dollars and once they’ve ruined the airlines, they disappear into the sunset.
    Leave Continental alone!!!! Let United merge with another airline. Didn’t US Air just dump them?