Source: Chicago Tribune

Chicago-based United Airlines shareholders on Friday overwhelmingly voted to approve a deal to combine with Continental to form the world's biggest airline.

Meanwhile in Houston, Continental shareholders also gave the merger a thumbs up.

Shareholders of United parent UAL Corp. met in Elk Grove Township on Friday morning to vote on the $3 billion stock swap. The companies expect the deal to close in the next two weeks.

Once the voting is over, the real work begins, including dealing with labor issues, combining reservations systems and even putting new paint jobs on the planes.