CHICAGO -- Continental Airlines and United Airlines haveannounced an alliance that will link the two carriers' flight andfare systems in an effort to boost revenue and stem rising fuelcosts.

The carriers said they will sell tickets on the same flightswith the aim of reducing operational and marketing costs.Continental said that it will submit a request to the Department ofTransportation to allow it and United to join an alreadyestablished antitrust immunized alliance that will enable theairlines, 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 andprovides more 3,100 flights a day, the airline said. Chicago-basedUnited has more than 55,000 employees said it provided more than3,200 flights daily.

There was no mention of whether the alliance would trigger anystaff cuts, according to a statement released today by GlennTilton, chairman, president/CEO of United and Larry Kellner,chairman and CEO of Continental. Industry analysts in severalpublications have indicated that the agreement should not have anyimpact on the respective airlines' employees.

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