UAL Ponders Talks About a Merger

Article from the January 19, 2008 Financial Times, written by Justin Baer

“United Airlines is considering a new round of talks to merge with Continental Airlines if its negotiations with another rival, Delta Air Lines, end without an agreement, people familiar with the company's plans said.

Glenn Tilton, United chief executive, an outspoken proponent of industrywide consolidation, signalled yesterday that the Chicago-based airlines could still strike a deal even if Delta merges with Northwest Airlines. Delta opened negotiations with both United and Northwest earlier this month, the people said.

United and Continental discussed a possible merger a year ago after US Airways made a hostile bid for Delta, which was then under bankruptcy protection, the people said.

Those talks cooled after Delta rejected US Airways' advances, but the two sides remained in touch, they said.

United and Continental declined to comment.”