NEW YORK (Standard&Poor's) Aug. 30, 2010--The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Aug. 27, 2010, informed Continental Airlines Inc. and UAL Corp. (UAL), parent of United Air Lines Inc. (United), that it had closed its antitrust review of the proposed merger, removing what Standard&Poor's Ratings Services views as the most significant potential obstacle to the transaction. Our ratings on Continental remain on CreditWatch with varying implications: negative implications for the corporate credit rating and ratings on its secured and unsecured debt, and developing implications for the ratings on its enhanced equipment trust certificates (EETC's). The successful conclusion of the DOJ antitrust review, which follows earlier clearance from the European Union, removes what we believe could have
