UAL and US Air started chatting each other up about a potential merger months ago. But then, UAL starting hanging out with Continental Airlines and began to get pretty keen on her. After some casual dalliances, Continental made clear she was not in it for the long haul, though, and now it seems UAL is back in baby’s arms. But this time is it for keeps?

The chief executive officers of UAL Corp. and US Airways Group Inc. are scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss their continuing merger talks and to share information on potential stumbling blocks that UAL directors raised at their last board meeting, said people familiar with the matter.

The airlines have been exploring a combination for more than two months, though the discussions slowed in April, while UAL held separate merger talks with Continental Airlines Inc. After Continental rebuffed United Airlines parent UAL a month ago, saying it preferred to remain independent, United stepped up talks with US Airways.

Thursday's CEO meeting has been scheduled for several days. If the executives can move their companies toward resolving the bulk of the outstanding issues, they ostensibly could approach their boards in mid-June for permission to move ahead with a deal, these people said.

There are no particular points of contention in the talks between United and US Airways, said the people familiar with the matter. The airlines have yet to agree on an exchange ratio for a share swap, or on who might run a combined company. They concur that a merger could deliver $1.5 billion in cost and revenue synergies, which is more than their current combined market capitalization, these people said.

Outstanding issues include how the airlines would raise capital to fund the combination; how to resolve some labor-contract issues that could have adverse economic consequences; and how much flexibility they would have to take airplane seats out of their combined system.

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