Big

United Airlines and Continental Airlines Inc. announced a $3-billion merger on Monday, a marriage that would create the world's biggest airline.United parent UAL Corp. is buying Houston-based Continental in an all-stock deal that would put the carrier near the top of all the major domestic travel markets, including Los Angeles, and give it a global reach spanning 59 countries and 370 destinations from South America to Asia and Europe.If approved by regulators, employee unions and stockholders, the combined company would overtake current No. 1 Delta Air Lines Inc. as the industry's biggest carrier, with 44 million passengers, 90,000 employees and 10 hubs, the largest based in Houston.The deal came together after just three weeks of negotiations. But it's the product of a decade-long search by United Chairman and Chief Executive Glenn F. Tilton. His company for years has been seeking a partner to expand its global network and attract more high-fare business travelers in an industry that has struggled amid a down economy./L A Times