DALLAS — United Airlines and Continental Airlines Inc. are moving closer to announcing as early as Monday that they will combine to form the world's largest carrier by passenger traffic, according to people familiar with the matter.

Continental's board plans to meet today and Sunday to consider a deal, according to one person familiar with the discussions.

Another person briefed on the talks said Thursday that negotiators have agreed that the combined company would be called United, it would be based in United's hometown of Chicago, and run by Continental CEO Jeffery Smisek with United CEO Glenn Tilton as chairman.