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Officials Say United-Continental Merger Good for Illinois
State and local officials are optimistic about the merger of United and Continental airlines.

Gov. Pat Quinn joined Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and airline executives Tuesday in Chicago to talk about the merger and what it means for the state. They gave their presentations in the lobby of Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), a building where 2,800 United operations employees will be located.

The merger of the two companies, should it be approved by shareholders and anti-trust regulators, would make Chicago-based United the largest airline in the world, surpassing Delta Airlines.

The merger will mean job growth in Illinois, according to United boss Glenn Tilton. "We're creating a company that has the stability financially to be a foundation for job growth," Tilton said. "This company, with the benefits that will come to the company, will create the opportunity not only for sustained employment which in this industry has been the equivalent of growth, to actually begin to create jobs."

Quinn says transportation is "the key to economic growth in jobs."

The merger could take up to a year to be approved, according to analysts, and would make Continental CEO Jeff Smisek CEO of the merged airlines. Tilton would be chairman.

(Illinois Radio Network)
05 04 10 by Newsroom
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