CHICAGO -- Continental Airlines and United Airlines have announced an alliance that will link the two carriers' flight and fare systems in an effort to boost revenue and stem rising fuel costs.

The carriers said they will sell tickets on the same flights with the aim of reducing operational and marketing costs. Continental said that it will submit a request to the Department of Transportation to allow it and United to join an already established antitrust immunized alliance that will enable the airlines, along with Lufthansa, Air Canada and six other carriers, to establish trans-Atlantic and other international joint ventures, according to a statement.

Houston-based Continental has more than 45,000 employees and provides more 3,100 flights a day, the airline said. Chicago-based United has more than 55,000 employees said it provided more than 3,200 flights daily.

There was no mention of whether the alliance would trigger any staff cuts, according to a statement released today by Glenn Tilton, chairman, president/CEO of United and Larry Kellner, chairman and CEO of Continental. Industry analysts in several publications have indicated that the agreement should not have any impact on the respective airlines' employees.

The $200 million Continental Federal Credit Union serves Continental. Although chartered to serve United 73 years ago, $5 billion Alliant CU has since diversified its field of membership.