The term 'American Competitor' refers to four major airlines in the UNITED States: DELTA (5 letters), UNITED (6 letters), CONTINENTAL (11 letters), and TWA (3 letters). DELTA Airlines is the second largest airline in the world, and is based in Atlanta, Georgia. UNITED Airlines is the third largest airline in the world, and is based in Chicago, Illinois. CONTINENTAL Airlines is the fourth largest airline in the world, and is based in Houston, Texas. TWA, or Trans World Airlines, was a major American airline that operated from 1930 until 2001, when it was acquired by American Airlines.