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United and Continental Reach Agreement to Lease Slots at Newark to Southwest AirlinesUnited Airlines Continental Airlines today announced that they have reached agreements to lease 18 pairs of take-off and landing slots (roundtrip flights) during peak and off-peak travel times and certain related facilities to Southwest Airlines at Newark Liberty International Airport.
The agreement is intended to address United States Department of Justice concerns related to Continental*s proposed merger with United.
**We think this would be a fair solution that would allow Continental and United to create an airline that will provide customers with an unparalleled global network and top quality products and services, while enhancing domestic competition at Newark,** said Jeff Smisek, Continental*s Chairman, president and CEO.
Continental and United currently operate 442 daily roundtrip flights into and out of Newark Liberty. The leasing of the first of the 18 daily slot pairs will begin in late March 2011 and the leasing arrangement will be fully implemented in June 2011.
United and Continental will continue to serve all the communities both airlines currently serve. Since the slot pair transfer is expected to have minimal impact on combined carrier*s route network, United and Continental are not changing the previously announced synergy estimates of the merger.
07.09.2010. 17:25 Continental Airlines Introduces Specialty CocktailsHOUSTON, June 30, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today announced that it will introduce specialty cocktails on board flights beginning July 1. The specialty beverages include Stirrings(R) Mojito, Stirrings(R) Pomegranate Martini, and Red Bull(R) Energy Drink.
**We continue to search for premium offerings to give our customers more choices inflight,** said Mark Bergsrud, senior vice president of marketing programs and distribution. **The new specialty cocktails are top-quality products for our customers to enjoy.**
Continental Airlines partnered with Stirrings, the leading premium cocktail mixer brand, to offer its Mojito and Pomegranate Martini. The Mojito is a crisp cocktail with a sweet, smooth blend of mint, cane sugar and lime juice, served with Bacardi Light rum on ice for $9. The Pomegranate Martini is a refreshing cocktail with a sweet-tart blend of pomegranate, cane sugar and lemon juice, served with Skyy Vodka on ice for $9. Stirrings cocktail mixers are made with all-natural, superior-quality ingredients like real fruit juice, cane sugar and triple-filtered water, and are available to customers without alcohol for $3.
Continental teamed with Red Bull to offer its energy drink to customers for $3. Known as the original energy drink that vitalizes the body and mind, customers may pair it with Skyy Vodka on ice for $9.
The specialty drinks, available for sale in economy class on flights to North American, Caribbean and Latin American destinations, may be purchased with a major credit or debit card in Continental*s cashless cabins. Customers may take advantage of an inflight discount of $2 off alcoholic beverages when using a Continental Airlines MasterCard from Chase.
The specialty beverage menu is part of Continental*s initiative to offer customers more choices inflight. In the fall, Continental will introduce a variety of high quality, healthy food choices for purchase in economy class on many U.S./Canada and certain Latin American routes. Continental will continue to offer free beverage snacks and unlimited nonalcoholic beverages, including premium blend Fresh Brew coffee, hot tea and a wide selection of soda and juices.
02.07.2010. 10:55 Continental Airlines Announces New Daily Service From Houston Hub to Lagos, NigeriaHOUSTON, June 14, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today announced plans to launch new daily nonstop flights between Houston and Lagos, Nigeria, beginning Nov. 10, 2011, subject to government approval. It will be the first daily scheduled service offered between Texas and Africa by any carrier.
Lagos will be Continental*s first destination in Africa and the 30th city in its trans-Atlantic route network. It is the second new international destination announced in the last month that will be served nonstop from Houston, Continental*s largest hub. Continental currently serves 63 international destinations nonstop from Houston and recently announced plans to begin nonstop service between Houston and Auckland beginning Nov. 16, 2011, subject to government approval.
With the addition of flights to Africa, Houston will become one of just four cities in the world - and the only city in the Western Hemisphere - to have nonstop service to every inhabited continent on the globe.
**We are excited to continue to expand our international route network from Houston by adding nonstop service to Lagos,** said Jeff Smisek, Continental*s chairman, president and chief executive officer. **This flight will link two energy capitals and fill the growing demand for nonstop service between the two cities - a route which is currently not served by any other airline.**
On May 3, Continental announced that it has agreed to merge with United Airlines in a merger of equals to create the world*s leading airline. The success of the Houston-Lagos route will be enhanced by the additional traffic flows through Houston that are expected to result from the merger.
**Houston stands to gain economically from this new direct connection to Africa, particularly in our energy and tourism industries,** said Houston Mayor Annise Parker. **It*s a win that will help facilitate increased commerce and trade, a direct benefit to the businesses and citizens of both regions.**
**It is vitally important to our local economy that Continental continue to expand and add critical destinations like Lagos, Nigeria, for service from Houston*s Intercontinental Airport,** said Congressman Gene Green. **This new route will also prove important for the growth of our energy industry here in Houston.**
**With this new USA-Africa route, Continental is doing more to make the business of international business its business and that*s a good thing,** said Congressman Al Green.
**This new service will drive the creation of new business connections between Houston and Nigeria, particularly in the energy sector,** said Congressman Kevin Brady. **Growth at Houston*s Intercontinental airport helps create jobs here at home and bring in dollars to our communities while offering more options for our business travelers.**
**As international trade continues to be an increasingly integral part of growing our economy, this improved service by Continental will enhance economic development and create jobs not only for the energy industry, but for all Houston and the state of Texas as a whole,** said Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis.
Proposed Schedule
Continental will operate the approximately 6,500-mile flight with a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, seating 36 customers in BusinessFirst and 192 customers in economy class. Flying times will be approximately 11 hours eastbound, and 12 hours 30 minutes westbound. The new flight will reduce travel time between the two cities by over four hours by eliminating any connection en route.
The flight will be timed to provide convenient connections at Continental*s Houston hub to more than 100 other cities throughout the U.S., Canada, Latin America and the Pacific. Continental will begin taking reservations and selling tickets on the new route later this year.
02.07.2010. 10:50 |
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