United, Continental launch world's largest airline

United and Continental yesterday closed a deal creating the world's biggest airline, although it will be months before it looks that way to travelers.

By early 2012, travelers will see a combined airline called United Airlines, with Continental's blue and gold colors and globe logo on the tail.

Between now and then, the new company, United Continental Holdings Inc., will run the two as separate operations, with each airline's customers checking in at Continental or United websites and airport counters. Their frequent-flier programs will stay separate for now, too.

"A passenger, whether they came in 30 days ago, today or 30 days from now, will probably see no difference whatsoever," said Troy Bell, director of marketing and air service development at Richmond International Airport.

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Facebook now second-largest online video viewing platform

WASHINGTON — Facebook became the second-largest online video viewing platform in the United States in August, leap-frogging Yahoo! but still trailing far behind YouTube, digital tracking firm comScore said.

ComScore said a total of 178 million US Internet users watched online video in August for an average of 14.3 hours per viewer.

Google sites, primarily YouTube, attracted 146.3 million unique viewers in the United States in August, Facebook 58.6 million unique viewers and Yahoo! 53.9 million unique viewers, comScore said.

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Mega merger will create world's largest airline

 

PHOENIX - The finishing touches on an airline mega-merger are expected to happen Friday.

United Airlines and Continental Airlines will become the world's largest airline and be based in Chicago.

The new airline will operate under United Airlines using the Continental Airlines logo.

At Sky Harbor International Airport, passengers will see some slight changes.

Currently United and Continental are next to one another in Terminal 2 and the signs at the ticket counters will be replaced with United Airlines' new look.

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