AIRLINES

Airline Merger Talks Called Off: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines said it has ended talks with British Airways. A merger would have created the world’s fourth-largest airline. In a statement, the Dutch flag carrier said the talks failed because the two sides could not agree on the valuation of both companies. KLM reportedly had been holding out for a 40% stake in a new joint holding company the giant airlines were considering. But BA was only prepared to offer 30%, published reports said.