United, Continental shareholders voting on deal to create world’s biggest airline

United, Continental shareholders vote on deal

Shareholders of United’s parent company and Continental Airlines are voting on a deal that would create the world’s biggest airline.

Results of the voting will be announced Friday. If shareholders approve, the deal is expected to close in the next two weeks.

Then the real work begins, including dealing with labor issues, combining reservations systems and giving the planes new paint jobs.

The new airline will be called United and based in United’s hometown of Chicago. It will be run by Continental’s CEO.

Shareholders of United parent UAL Corp. will meet in Chicago, while Continental shareholders gather in Houston.