Airline will be largest in miles

Associated Press

The biggest airline in the world will have the United name, Continental’s globe logo and potentially far-reaching effects on air travel.

Shareholders who approved combining the two companies Friday hope the new airline attracts more top-dollar corporate travelers with its larger network while reducing costs.

The companies expect it will be at least a year before federal authorities approve their request to fly as one airline.

The UAL acquisition of Continental will combine United’s strength in the Midwest, the West Coast and across the Pacific with Continental’s presence in Texas, the East Coast and routes to Europe and Latin America. Measured by traffic — the number of miles flown by paying customers — the new United will leapfrog Delta, Air France-KLM and American Airlines to become the world’s biggest airline.

United and Continental say they compete with low-cost carriers on about three-fourths of their U.S. routes, which will help keep fares down.

The deal has caused concern in Cleveland, which is Continental’s smallest hub and overlaps with United’s big hub in Chicago.

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