American Airlines and US Airways will combine early next month and create the world’s largest airline. A New York judge on Wednesday approved the settlement reached earlier this month between the Justice Department and both airlines, allowing American to emerge from bankruptcy to complete the merger. AMR Corporation, parent of American Airlines, says the deal will be finalized on December 9th. The DOJ had initially (and aggressively) tried to prevent the two popular US airlines from becoming one, arguing that the move would hike airfare for all travelers and harm competition within the industry. But as the antitrust battle waged on, the Justice Department grew less combative, agreeing to allow the merger if American and US Airways would give up dozens of takeoff and landing slots at numerous major airports across the US.