Continental Airlines
IATA CO	ICAO COA	Callsign CONTINENTAL
Founded		1934 (as Varney Speed Lines)
Hubs		George Bush Intercontinental Airport (Houston) Newark Liberty International Airport Cleveland Hopkins International Airport Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (Guam)
Frequent flyer program		OnePass
Member lounge		Presidents Club
Alliance		SkyTeam
Subsidiaries		Continental Micronesia
Fleet size		367 (+89 orders)
Destinations		292
Company slogan		Work Hard, Fly Right
Headquarters		Houston, Texas
Key people		Larry Kellner (CEO) Jeff Misner (CFO)
Website: http://www.continental.com

Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) is a U.S. certificated air carrier. Based in Houston, Texas, it is the fourth-largest airline in the U.S.^[1] and the eighth-largest in the world by revenue passenger miles. Continental's marketing slogan, since 1998, has been Work Hard, Fly Right. Image File history File links Continental_Airlines_Logo. ... IATA airline designators, sometimes called IATA reservation codes, are two-character codes assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to the worlds airlines in accordance with the provisions of Resolution 762. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with ICAO airline code. ... Most airlines employ a distinctive and internationally recognised call sign that is normally spoken during airband radio transmissions as a prefix to the flight number. ... An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. ... George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IATA: IAH, ICAO: KIAH, FAA LID: IAH)[2] is an international airport in the city of Houston, Texas, United States serving the Greater Houston area. ... For the massive interchange outside of Newark Liberty International Airport, see Newark Airport Interchange. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (IATA: GUM, ICAO: PGUM), also known as Guam International Airport, is an airport located in Tamuning and Barrigada, six miles northeast of the capital city of HagÃ¥tña (formerly Agana) in the U.S. territory of Guam. ... Membership cards of FFP This article is about airline frequent flyer programs. ... Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) is an American airline. ... The lounge at ZRH, Switzerland An airport lounge is a lounge owned by a particular airline (or jointly operated by several carriers). ... An airline alliance is an agreement between two or more airlines to cooperate for the foreseeable future on a substantial level. ... SkyTeam is the second largest airline alliance in the world — behind Star Alliance — partnering thirteen carriers from four continents, with three pending members. ... A subsidiary, in business, is an entity that is controlled by another entity. ... Continental Micronesia is a wholly owned subsidiary airline of Continental Airlines. ... Houston redirects here. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Lawrence W. Larry Kellner (born 1959) has been CEO of Continental Airlines since December 2004, when former CEO Gordon Bethune retired. ... Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the job of having the ultimate executive responsibility or authority within an organization or corporation. ... CFO is usually short for Chief Financial Officer, but may also mean: Carrier frequency offset Ceramic fiber optics Chief Fire Officer Chief of Flight Operations Conselho Federal de Odontologia (cfo. ... The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), nicknamed the Big Board, is a New York City-based stock exchange. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Houston redirects here. ... Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) is a measure of an airline flights passenger traffic calculated by multiplying the total number of revenue-paying passengers onboard a flight by the distance of that flight measured in miles. ...

Continental operates to destinations throughout the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. It has more than 3,000 daily departures, serving 151 domestic and 120 international destinations and has 42,200 employees (at March 2007)^[2]. Principal operations are from its three hubs at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (in Cleveland, Ohio), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (in Houston, Texas), and Newark Liberty International Airport (in Newark, New Jersey). With a relatively small number of focus cities, the airline is arguably the most concentrated of all 6 major U.S. carriers around the hub and spoke system of airline travel. Continental Micronesia, a wholly owned subsidiary, operates routes around Micronesia from its hub at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport on Guam and connects the Micronesian region with destinations in East Asia, Southeast Asia, Honolulu and Cairns, Australia. Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Map showing general definition of Asia-Pacific The term Asia-Pacific generally applies to littoral East Asia, Southeast Asia and Australasia near the Pacific Ocean, plus the states in the ocean itself (Oceania). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Cleveland redirects here. ... George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IATA: IAH, ICAO: KIAH, FAA LID: IAH)[2] is an international airport in the city of Houston, Texas, United States serving the Greater Houston area. ... Houston redirects here. ... For the massive interchange outside of Newark Liberty International Airport, see Newark Airport Interchange. ... Nickname: Map of Newark in Essex County County Founded/Incorporated 1666/1836 Government  - Mayor Cory Booker, term of office 2006–2010 Area [1]  - City 67. ... In the airline industry, a focus city is a location that is not a hub, but from which the airline has flights to at least several destinations other than its hubs. ... The Spoke-hub distribution paradigm derives its name from a bicycle wheel, which consists of a number of spokes jutting outward from a central hub. ... Continental Micronesia is a wholly owned subsidiary airline of Continental Airlines. ... A subsidiary, in business, is an entity that is controlled by another entity. ... Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (IATA: GUM, ICAO: PGUM), also known as Guam International Airport, is an airport located in Tamuning and Barrigada, six miles northeast of the capital city of HagÃ¥tña (formerly Agana) in the U.S. territory of Guam. ... East Asia Geographic East Asia. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Honolulu as seen from the International Space Station Honolulu is the largest city and the capital of the U.S. state of Hawai‘i. ... Cairns redirects here. ...

Continental Airlines is a minority owner of ExpressJet Airlines, which operates under the trade name Continental Express but is a separately managed and publicly-traded company. They are also a minority owner of Copa Airlines. Cape Air, Colgan Air, CommutAir, and Gulfstream International Airlines feed Continental's flights under the Continental Connection identity, as does Chautauqua Airlines under the Continental Express identity; Continental does not have any ownership interests in these companies. ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. ... A trade name, also known as a trading name or a business name, is the legal name of a business, or the name which a business trades under for commercial purposes. ... Continental Express (IATA: n/a, ICAO: BTA, and Callsign: Jet Link) is the operating name of ExpressJet Airlines for Continental Airlines. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Copa Airlines is the national flag carrier airline of Panama, based in Panama City, Panama. ... Cape Air is an airline based in Hyannis, Massachusetts, USA. It operates scheduled passenger services in Cape Cod and the islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. ... Colgan Air is an American regional airline. ... CommutAir is an American regional airline based in Plattsburgh, New York, USA. It operates under the name Continental Connection for Continental Airlines. ... Gulfstream International Airlines is a carrier operating under the name Continental Connection for Continental Airlines. ... Continental Connection Continental Connection is a name under which several commuter airline carriers and their airline holding companies operate service marketed exclusively by Continental Airlines. ... It has been suggested that Corporate Visual Identity Management be merged into this article or section. ... Chautauqua Airlines is an airline based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. It operates scheduled passenger services on more than 670 flights daily to cities in 30 states, Canada and the Bahamas, through feeder services under the names Delta Connection for Delta Air Lines, AmericanConnection for American Airlines, Continental Express for Continental...

Since September 2004, Continental has been a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, in which it participates with Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines, and KLM. In addition to extensive code share arrangements with SkyTeam partner airlines, the airline also code-shares with Amtrak rail services to some cities in the northeastern United States, and with SNCF French Rail to destinations in France. SkyTeam is the second largest airline alliance in the world — behind Star Alliance — partnering thirteen carriers from four continents, with three pending members. ... Delta Air Lines, Inc. ... Northwest Airlines (NYSE: NWA), occasionally known as NWA, is an American airline headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, near Minneapolis-St. ... KLM can also refer to KLM (Human Computer Interaction) KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (in full: Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, literally Royal Air Transport Company; usual English: Royal Dutch Airlines) is an airline subsidiary of Air France-KLM based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. ... Code sharing is a business term which first originated in the airline industry. ... The high-speed Acela Express in West Windsor, New Jersey. ... An SNCF train. ...

History

Early history

Boeing 757-200 lands at Bristol International Airport, England

Continental Airlines began service in 1934 as Varney Speed Lines, named after one of its initial owners, Walter T. Varney operating out of El Paso, Texas and extending through Las Vegas, Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico to Pueblo, Colorado. The airline started with Lockheed Vegas, a single engine plane that carried four passengers. The airline later flew other Lockheed planes, including the Lodestar. It was renamed Continental on 1 July 1937 after a new owner Robert Six had taken a forty percent ownership with Varney's co-founder Louis Mueller. Six relocated the airline's headquarters to Stapleton Airport in Denver in October, 1937. Robert F. Six was one of the legendary patriarchs of U.S. aviation had a reputation as a scrappy, pugnacious and risk-taking executive who presided over the airline he largely forged in his image for more than 40 years.^[3] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1086, 407 KB) Continental Airlines Boeing 757-200 (US registration N19117, built 1996) lands from New York at Bristol International Airport, Bristol, England. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1086, 407 KB) Continental Airlines Boeing 757-200 (US registration N19117, built 1996) lands from New York at Bristol International Airport, Bristol, England. ... The Boeing 757 is a medium-range transcontinental commercial passenger airplane manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. ... Bristol International Airport (IATA: BRS, ICAO: EGGD) is the commercial airport serving the city of Bristol and much of the south west of England. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Year 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Walter Varney is the founder of Varney Airlines, based in Boise, Idaho, and Varney Speed Lines at El Paso, Texas. ... El Paso redirects here. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ... “Albuquerque” redirects here. ... Nickname: Location in Santa Fe County, New Mexico Coordinates: , Country State County Santa Fe Founded ca. ... Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Largest metro area Albuquerque metropolitan area Area  Ranked 5th  - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 km²)  - Width 342 miles (550 km)  - Length 370 miles (595 km)  - % water 0. ... The City of Pueblo (IPA: //) is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat of Pueblo County, Colorado, USA. Pueblo is situated at the confluence of the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Largest metro area Denver-Aurora Metro Area Area  Ranked 8th  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Robert F. Six Robert Forman Six was born June 25, 1907, in Stockton, California. ... Stapleton International Airport was Denver, Colorados primary airport from 1929 to 1995. ... This article refers to the state capital of Colorado. ...

During World War II Continental's Denver maintenance facilities became a conversion center where the airline converted B-29s and P-51s for the United States Army Air Force. Profits from military transportation and aircraft conversion enabled Continental to contemplate expansion and acquisition of new aircraft types which became available following the war.^[3] Among those types were the DC-3, and Convair 240. Some of the DC-3's were acquired as surplus planes after WW-II. The Convair was the first airplane operated by Continental that was pressurized. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... This article refers to the state capital of Colorado. ... The Boeing B-29 Superfortress (Boeing Model 341/345) was a four-engine heavy bomber flown by the United States Army Air Force. ... The North American P-51 Mustang was a successful long range fighter aircraft which set new standards of excellence and performance when it entered service in the middle years of World War II and is still regarded as one of the very best piston-engined fighters ever made. ... USAAF recruitment poster. ... Cabin pressurization is the active pumping of air into the cabin of an aircraft to increase the air pressure within the cabin. ...

The airline's early route network was limited to the southwestern United States for many years. In 1953, Continental merged with Pioneer Airlines, gaining access to 16 additional cities in Texas and New Mexico which integrated well with the carrier's initial El Paso-Albuquerque-Denver route.^[3] There were several Pioneer Airlines. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Largest metro area Albuquerque metropolitan area Area  Ranked 5th  - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 km²)  - Width 342 miles (550 km)  - Length 370 miles (595 km)  - % water 0. ...

Growth

Robert F. Six.

By the end of the 1950s, Continental Airlines had seen a broad expansion of its routes. In 1957 it flew for the first time from Chicago to Los Angeles (both nonstop, and via Denver); and from Denver to Kansas City. Continental Airlines introduced turboprop service with the Vickers Viscount 800 Series, on the new medium length routes. Continental was also an early operator of the Boeing 707, taking delivery of its first 707s in 1959. Six, not being satisfied with jet service alone, introduced dramatic service innovations with Continental's 707 operations which were described as, "...nothing short of luxurious" by the Los Angeles Times, and, "...clearly, the finest in the airline industry" by the Chicago Tribune.^[4] Image File history File links Corfsix. ... Image File history File links Corfsix. ... The Boeing 707 is an American four-engine commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. ... This just IN !!!:paris hiltons new dog. ...

Continental's initial purchase of the Boeing 707 jets was for four jets. The airline introduced a program of progressive maintenance in order to obtain the utilization rates for the jets needed to operate its schedule. That program was crucial to successfully operating with only four jets.

Prior to the arrival of the Boeing 707 jets, Continental acquired DC-7's to operate its non-stop route from Los Angeles to Chicago.

Beginning in the early 1960s Continental expanded rapidly, adding service from Los Angeles to Houston (both nonstop, and with services via Phoenix, Tucson, El Paso, Midland/Odessa, Austin, and San Antonio); and from Denver and to Seattle, Portland, New Orleans, and Houston (both nonstop, and with services via Wichita and Tulsa/Oklahoma City). In 1963 the company's headquarters moved from Denver to Los Angeles.^[3] This article refers to the state capital of Colorado. ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ...

During the late 1960s, Continental replaced the Viscounts with DC-9's from Douglas Aircraft. The company also disposed of its piston powered airplanes, one of the first airlines to do so. The last piston powered airplane operated by Continental was the DC-3.

Throughout the Vietnam War Continental provided extensive cargo and troop transportation for United States Army and Marine forces to Asian and the Pacific bases. As a result of Continental's experience in Pacific operations, the carrier formed subsidiary Air Micronesia, picking up island hopping routes between Saipan/Guam and Honolulu, which Continental operated with 727 aircraft (this unit is currently known as Continental Micronesia). In 1968 a new aircraft livery was launched, the orange and gold cheatlines adorned with a black global circle on the jet's tails. The marketing slogan adopted in the late 1960s and used through the early 70s was, "The Proud Bird with the Golden Tail."^[4][3] Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... The United States Army is the largest and oldest branch of the armed forces of the United States. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing power projection from the sea,[1] utilizing the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces. ... Continental Micronesia is a subsidiary of Continental Airlines, formerly Air Micronesia. ... Island hopping refers to crossing an ocean by a series of shorter journeys between islands, as opposed to a single journey directly across the ocean to the destination. ... Rather unusually, these Angels wear white hart (deer) badges, with the personal livery of King Richard II of England, who commissioned this, the Wilton diptych, about 1400 A livery is a uniform or other sign worn in a non-military context on a person or object (such as an airplane... In civil aviation, a cheatline is a decorative horizontal band of color applied to both sides of an aircrafts fuselage of as part of its livery. ...

1969 saw the introduction of service from Los Angeles to Honolulu/Hilo; and in 1970, Continental's first Boeing 747s arrived. McDonnell-Douglas DC-10s were added to the fleet in 1971. Continental was selected to serve the route from the Pacific Northwest to San Jose and Ontario, CA.^[3] The Boeing 747, sometimes nicknamed the Jumbo Jet,[4][5] is long-haul, widebody commercial airliner manufactured by Boeing in the United States. ... Biman Bangladesh Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-10 The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a three-engined long-range airliner, with two engines mounted on underwing pylons and a third engine at the base of the vertical stabilizer. ... The Pacific Northwest from space The Pacific Northwest, abbreviated PNW, or PacNW is a region in the northwest of North America. ...

Continental's growth during this period was about more than new aircraft types or additional route miles. Quality was the watchword in every detail of the carrier's operation; and in one anecdotal indication of Six's passion for premium customer service, every page of the airline's Customer Service Manual was inscribed with these words: "Nothing in this manual supersedes common sense." Bob Six relentlessly prowled the Continental system, as well as competitors' flights, to assure tight quality standards and to search for ideas that could be adopted to Continental's network.^[4][3]

At Six's insistence, Continental (with Pan Am) was a launch airline for the Boeing 747 aircraft. Its upper-deck first class lounge won awards worldwide for the most refined cabin interior among all airlines, as did meal services developed by Continental's Cordon Bleu-trained executive chefs. Continentals 747 services from Chicago and Denver to Los Angeles and Honolulu set the standard for service in the western U.S. When asked by one Denver customer service agent in 1974 why he flew Continental wherever he could, Hollywood legend Henry Fonda remarked, "This operation is class; strictly class!"^[4][3] Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) was the United States principal international airline from the 1930s until its collapse in 1991, and was credited with many innovations that shaped the international airline industry. ... Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was a highly acclaimed Academy Award-winning American film and stage actor, best known for his roles as plain-speaking idealists. ...

First black pilot

In 1963, Continental hired the first black pilot to work for any major carrier in the United States, Marlon Green, after a United States Supreme Court decision allowed a Colorado anti-discrimination law to be applied to his case.^[5] Though most indigenous Africans possess relatively dark skin, they exhibit much variation in physical appearance. ... Marlon D. Green (b. ... The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C., (large image) The Supreme Court of the United States, located in Washington, D.C., is the highest court (see supreme court) in the United States; that is, it has ultimate judicial authority within the United States... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Largest metro area Denver-Aurora Metro Area Area  Ranked 8th  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ...

Acquisition by Texas Air Corp.

In 1981 Texas Air Corporation, an airline holding company controlled by U.S. aviation entrepreneur and raider Frank Lorenzo, acquired Continental after a contentious battle with Continental's management who were adamantly determined to resist Lorenzo. Continental's labor unions also fiercely resisted, fearing what they termed as, "Lorenzo's deregulation tactics." In the end, Texas Air Corp. prevailed. Frank Lorenzo became Continental's new Chairman and CEO. Texas International Airlines (TI), another Lorenzo holding, was merged into Continental Airlines in June 1982. TI ceased to exist and the "new Continental" relocated its headquarters to Texas Air's base in Houston, Texas. The merger resulted in a large expansion of Continental's hub at Houston Intercontinental Airport and its extensive routes to Mexico.^[4][6] Francisco A. Lorenzo is an investment manager, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a former airline CEO in the United States. ... George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IATA: IAH, ICAO: KIAH, FAA LID: IAH)[2] is an international airport in the city of Houston, Texas, United States serving the Greater Houston area. ...

Continental Airlines Boeing 777-200 at Cibao International Airport in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic

Airline unions fought Continental at every step. In the Federal courts, they unsuccessfully sued to stop the company's reorganization. They were successful in working to persuade Congress to pass a new bankruptcy law preventing bankrupt companies from terminating contracts as Continental had successfully done. The law was too late to affect Continental and the drastic cost cutting and changes that had rescued it from liquidation.^[4][6][7] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... American Airlines Boeing 777. ... Cibao International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional del Cibao) (IATA: STI, ICAO: MDST) is an international airport located in Santiago de los Caballeros, the Dominican Republics second largest city. ... Founded in 1495 during the first wave of European colonization of the New World, today Santiago de los Caballeros (the first Santiago of America) is the second most important city in the Dominican Republic on the island of Hispaniola. ...

First bankruptcy

Frank Lorenzo took Continental into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 1983 after extensive negotiations with labor unions proved unsuccessful. Continental imposed a series of new labor agreement on its union workers, sharply reducing the airline's labor costs. This move made Continental vastly more competitive with the new airline startups then emerging and thriving in the southwestern U.S.^[6][7] Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code governs the process of reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. ... Notice of closure stuck on the door of a computer store the day after its parent company, Granville Technology Group Ltd, declared bankruptcy (strictly, put into administration—see text) in the United Kingdom. ...

Much of the airline was liquidated and the company was rebranded as a low-cost carrier. Continental was also forced to abandon its hub in Los Angeles although it maintained its Denver and South Pacific routes. A more streamlined, leaner Continental emerged only a few days after the bankruptcy filing, a fact which gave Continental the distinction of being the first airline to fly through bankruptcy.^[6][7]

Rapid growth through consolidation

In June 1985, Continental rebounded as signaled by a major strategic move: initiating European service with flights from Houston to London. George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IATA: IAH, ICAO: KIAH, FAA LID: IAH)[2] is an international airport in the city of Houston, Texas, United States serving the Greater Houston area. ... Gatwick Airport (IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK) is Londons second largest airport and the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom after Heathrow. ...

Continental's Boeing 777 "Peter Max" (colorful airplane) at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas. Downtown Houston is visible in the background.

. Image File history File linksMetadata Peter_Max_-_IAH.jpg‎ Daniel2986 05:24, 28 December 2006 (UTC) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Peter_Max_-_IAH.jpg‎ Daniel2986 05:24, 28 December 2006 (UTC) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... The Boeing 777 is an American long-range wide-body twin-engine airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. ... Peter Max (born October 19, 1937 as Peter Finkelstein) is an American Pop artist. ... George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IATA: IAH, ICAO: KIAH, FAA LID: IAH)[2] is an international airport in the city of Houston, Texas, United States serving the Greater Houston area. ... Houston redirects here. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Skyline District of Downtown Downtown Houston is Houstons largest business district. ...

In October 1985, Texas Air Corp. made an offer for a Denver-based regional carrier, Frontier Airlines, opening a bidding war with People Express, which was headed by Lorenzo's former TI associate Don Burr. PeopleExpress paid a substantial premium for Frontier's high-cost operation. The acquisition, funded by debt, did not seem to industry observers be rational from either the route integration or the operating philosophy points of view, but was in the opinion of most industry analysts rather an attempt by Burr to best his former boss, Frank Lorenzo.^[4][7] Frontier Airlines was formed by a merger of Arizona Airways, Challenger Airlines, and Monarch Airlines on June 1, 1950, with headquarters at Stapleton Field in Denver, Colorado. ... People Express Airlines, aka PEOPLExpress, was a U.S. no-frills airline that operated from 1981 to 1987. ...

On August 24, 1986, Frontier filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations. With PeopleExpress hemorraging cash, Texas Air acquired PeopleExpress on September 15, 1986, at the same time gaining Frontier, which reinforced Continental's already formidable Denver hub. The PeopleExpress hub at Newark allowed Continental to expand its east coast services dramatically for the first time in its history; and the carrier soon became the third-largest airline in the U.S.. Continental emerged from bankruptcy in 1986 with dramatically improved asset and cash flow positions and a much more competitive route structure with routes radiating to every large U.S. city from major hubs at Denver and Houston.^[7][4] is the 236th day of the year (237th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ...

On February 1, 1987, People Express, New York Air, and several commuter carriers were merged into Continental Airlines to create the sixth largest airline in the world. Continental also inherited a Newark hub which it has substantially built up in the years that followed. 1987 also saw the creation of the OnePass frequent flier program (jointly with Eastern Airlines), and in 1988 Continental formed its first strategic partnership (and the first international airline alliance of its kind with SAS.^[4] is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) is an American airline. ... For the Chinese airline, see China Eastern Airlines. ... An airline alliance is an agreement between two or more airlines to cooperate for the foreseeable future on a substantial level. ... Scandinavian Airlines System or SAS is a multi-national airline for Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the leading carrier in the Scandinavian countries, based in Stockholm, Sweden and owned by SAS AB. It is a founding member of the Star Alliance. ...

Second bankruptcy

In 1990, Frank Lorenzo retired after 18 years at the helm of Texas International and later Texas Air and Continental Airlines, selling the majority of his Jet Capital Corporation to Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS). According to William F. Buckley, in his September 17, 1990 article on National Review, the sale to SAS was conditioned on Lorenzo leaving the company. Shortly after Lorenzo left Continental, the airline filed for its second bankruptcy inside of a decade. There were a number of circumstances behind the second bankruptcy, most importantly: Lorenzo had dedicated himself almost full time to Eastern Air Lines acquisition and labor relations issues; the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the resultant Gulf War had prompted a dramatic increase in the price of jet fuel; and People Express had also been highly leveraged at the time of its merger with Continental, having purchased Frontier Airlines just two years before. In addition to Lorenzo embarking on deals which saddled the airline with other carriers' debts, he also began consolidating the different airlines into one system. That resulted in a fleet comprising numerous aircraft types, evident in the array of liveries in the Continental fleet for years to come. Scandinavian Airlines System or SAS is a multi-national airline for Denmark, Norway and Sweden, and the leading carrier in the Scandinavian countries, based in Stockholm, Sweden and owned by SAS AB. It is a founding member of the Star Alliance. ... is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the defunct U.S. air carrier Eastern Air Lines. ... For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ... Frontier Airlines was formed by a merger of Arizona Airways, Challenger Airlines, and Monarch Airlines on June 1, 1950, with headquarters at Stapleton Field in Denver, Colorado. ...

In the late 1980s, following a dramatic reduction of service by United Airlines and an unsuccessful attempt by USAir to build-up point-to-point service, Continental slowly moved into Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and established what would become its third-largest system hub. Continental quickly gained nearly all of the gates in the airport's C concourse (once dominated by United), and later expanded that concourse in addition to constructing an entirely new Concourse D. United Airlines, also known as United Air Lines, Inc. ... The US Airways logo A US Airways 737 at Chicago OHare US Airways is an airline based in Arlington, Virginia. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

In 1993 Air Canada, along with Air Partners and Texas Pacific Group, aided Continental in coming out of chapter 11 once again by investing $450 million in the airline. Under the leadership of former Boeing executive Gordon Bethune, who became President in October of 1994, Continental subsequently ordered new aircraft in an effort to convert to an all-Boeing fleet. The airline's Denver hub - its historic operational base and headquarters for, in effect, almost 50 years - was reduced to spoke status (with service only to Houston, Newark, and Cleveland) in a further efficiency measure in 1995. Bethune also launched a 'Go-Forward Plan', designed to fix numerous other problems with the airline. His experiences were chronicled in his 1999 book From Worst to First.^[8] Air Canada is Canadas largest airline and flag carrier. ... The Texas Pacific Group (commonly referred as TPG) is a private equity investment firm founded by David Bonderman, James Coulter and William Price in 1993. ... Gordon M. Bethune (born August 1941) is the chairman of the board of Aloha Airgroup, parent company of Aloha Airlines. ... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661) is a major aerospace and defense corporation, originally founded by William Edward Boeing. ...

Current operations

Economy class interior of Continental Airlines Boeing 777-200

Continental embarked on an ambitious program to expand its international operations. In 1998 it launched flights to Ireland and Scotland, and in October 1998 the airline received its first Boeing 777 aircraft, allowing non-stop flights from Newark and Houston to Tokyo, Japan and from Newark to Tel Aviv, Israel. Continental in the same year launched partnerships with Northwest Airlines, Copa, Avant Airlines, Transbrasil, and Cape Air, and Continental and America West Airlines became the first two US airlines to launch interline electronic ticketing. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2272 × 1704 pixel, file size: 839 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The interior of a Continental Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft at Narita International Airport in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2272 × 1704 pixel, file size: 839 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The interior of a Continental Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft at Narita International Airport in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. ... The Boeing 777 is an American long-range wide-body twin-engine airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. ... This article is about the country. ... The Boeing 777 is an American long-range wide-body twin-engine airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. ... Narita International Airport ) (IATA: NRT, ICAO: RJAA) is an international airport located in Narita, Chiba, Japan, in the eastern portion of the Greater Tokyo Area. ... Ben Gurion International Airport or Ben Gurion Airport (‎, Namal HaTeÅ«fa Ben GÅ«ryōn, Arabic: , maṭār Ben Ghuryon ad-dawlÄ«) (IATA: TLV, ICAO: LLBG), historically known as Lydda Airport and sometimes referred to today by its Hebrew acronym Natbag (‎), is the largest and busiest international airport in Israel. ... Northwest Airlines (NYSE: NWA), occasionally known as NWA, is an American airline headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, near Minneapolis-St. ... The Child Online Protection Act (COPA) is a law in the United States of America, passed in 1998 with the declared purpose of protecting children from harmful sexual material on the internet. ... Transbrasil was a Brazilian International Airline which stopped operations in December, 2001. ... Cape Air is an airline based in Hyannis, Massachusetts, USA. It operates scheduled passenger services in Cape Cod and the islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. ... America West Airlines (IATA: HP, ICAO: AWE, and Callsign: Cactus), operating as US Airways, is one of the United States ten major airlines. ...

On March 1, 2001, Continental launched a non-stop flight from Newark to Hong Kong, flying over the North Pole, which was the first non-stop long-haul flight service for any airline with flying duration of 16 hours. The September 11, 2001 attacks and the SARS outbreak in Asia caused service to be suspended until August 1, 2003. The launch in 2001 started the battle between Continental, United Airlines and Cathay Pacific over non-stop flights between Hong Kong and New York. is the 60th day of the year (61st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... A non-stop flight in the aviation industry refers to any flight which does not involve any intermediate stops. ... A sequential look at United Flight 175 crashing into the south tower of the World Trade Center The September 11, 2001 attacks (often referred to as 9/11—pronounced nine eleven or nine one one) consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist[1] suicide attacks upon the United States, predominantly... Sars may refer to any of the following: Severe acute respiratory syndrome, commonly abbreviated as SARS Michael Sars, a Norwegian biologist, father of Georg Sars Georg Sars, a Norwegian biologist, son of Michael Sars Special Administrative Regions, commonly abbreviated as SARs Sars, Perm Krai, an urban settlement in Perm Krai... is the 213th day of the year (214th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... United Airlines, also known as United Air Lines, Inc. ... Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (SEHK: 0293)(traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ) is an airline based in Hong Kong, operating scheduled passenger and cargo services to 120 destinations worldwide. ...

In 2005, Continental expanded service from Newark to Beijing after being awarded the China route. During the same year, five new European destinations including Stockholm in Sweden, Belfast and Bristol in the United Kingdom, and Hamburg and Berlin in Germany. 2005 was a year in which coverage in Asia was also expanded; Continental introduced a nonstop daily flight from Newark to New Delhi, India. With the immense success of this Newark-Delhi route, Continental decided to open a second gateway in India. With the recent announcement of daily nonstop service to Mumbai, Continental will have the most nonstop flights from the United States to India by any carrier. Continental also began new non-stop service to Athens in June 2007. Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (IATA: ARN, ICAO: ESSA), is an international airport located in Sigtuna Municipality near to the town of Märsta, about 42km north of Stockholm and nearly 40km, by road, south-east of Uppsala. ... Belfast International Airport (IATA: BFS, ICAO: EGAA) is an airport located some 21 kilometres (13 miles) northwest of Belfast in Northern Ireland. ... Bristol International Airport (IATA: BRS, ICAO: EGGD) is the commercial airport serving the city of Bristol and much of the south west of England. ... Hamburg Airport (IATA: HAM, ICAO: EDDH) (German: ) is the international airport of Hamburg, Germany. ... Tegel International Airport Otto Lilienthal (IATA: TXL, ICAO: EDDT) (often shortened to Tegel) is an airport in Berlin, Germany. ... , This article is about the urban region that is the capital of India. ... , “Bombay” redirects here. ... This article is about the capital of Greece. ...

By May 2006, Continental passed bankrupt Northwest Airlines to become the fourth-largest U.S. carrier, the first change in the top-five rankings since 2001.

The Wall Street Journal revealed on December 12, 2006 that Continental was in merger discussions with United Airlines. Of issue would be Continental's golden share held by Northwest Airlines, dating from a stakeholding relationship during the late 1990s, and the divestiture of Continental's Guamanian hub. A deal was not "certain or imminent," with the talks being in a preliminary state.^[9][10] The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) is an international daily newspaper published by Dow Jones & Company in New York City, New York, USA, with Asian and European editions, and a worldwide daily circulation of more than 2 million as of 2006, with 931,000 paying online subscribers. ... is the 346th day of the year (347th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... United Airlines, also known as United Air Lines, Inc. ... A Golden Share is a nominal share, held by a government organization, in a government company undergoing the process of privatization and transformation into a stock-company. ... Northwest Airlines (NYSE: NWA), occasionally known as NWA, is an American airline headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, near Minneapolis-St. ...

Continental Airlines Boeing 757-200 with winglets takes off for Newark, USA.

In mid-2007, Continental will feature docking capability for Apple Computer's iPod portable music and video player. This will allow the device's battery to be charged, but will also allow integration with Continental's In-flight Entertainment (IFE) system. This will also enable the IFE system to play music, television shows, or movies stored on the iPod, as well as function as a control system.^[11] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1776x1249, 1297 KB) Continental Airlines Boeing 757-200 (registration N48127) takes off from Bristol International Airport, Bristol, England, bound for Newark (New York), USA. Photographed by Adrian Pingstone in December 2006 and released to the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1776x1249, 1297 KB) Continental Airlines Boeing 757-200 (registration N48127) takes off from Bristol International Airport, Bristol, England, bound for Newark (New York), USA. Photographed by Adrian Pingstone in December 2006 and released to the public domain. ... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661) is a major aerospace and defense corporation, originally founded by William Edward Boeing. ... American Airlines Boeing 757 The Boeing 757 is an American medium to long haul commercial passenger aircraft manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. ... Rutan VariEze, the first aircraft to use winglets in 1975 Learjet 28/29, the first production jet aircraft to use winglets in 1977 McDonnell Douglas MD-11, one of the first airliners to benefit from winglet research Wingtip devices are usually intended to improve the efficiency of fixed-wing aircraft. ... For the massive interchange outside of Newark Liberty International Airport, see Newark Airport Interchange. ... Apple Inc. ... iPod is a brand of portable media players designed and marketed by Apple and launched in October 2001. ... In-flight entertainment (IFE) refers to the entertainment available to aircraft passengers during a flight. ...

Recognizing operational capacity limits at Newark, Continental has begun utilizing its Cleveland hub as a reliever by developing more international service. On September 14, 2007, Continental announced a major two-year expansion of its Cleveland hub, including new service from Cleveland to Paris commencing May 22, 2008. Additional international routes are expected to follow, pending the completion of a newly-expanded Federal Inspection Services station in Continental's primary concourse in Cleveland. Domestically, the expansion will proceed in two phases. The first phase involves twelve new destinations to be served from Cleveland primarily on regional jets, with the new service in place by May 2008. Later, in 2009, up to 20 new destinations will be added, primarily on mainline aircraft. Continental states that the expansion will be complete in time for the summer 2009 travel season, and will result in up to 700 new jobs at its Cleveland hub. ^[12] Newark Liberty International Airport (IATA Airport Code EWR; ICAO Airport Code KEWR) is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States. ... Hopkins International Airport is an airport located approximately ten miles southwest of Cleveland, Ohio. ... Hopkins International Airport is an airport located approximately ten miles southwest of Cleveland, Ohio. ... Charles de Gaulle International Airport (IATA: CDG, ICAO: LFPG) (French: ), also known as Roissy Airport (or just Roissy in French), in Paris, is one of worlds principal aviation centres, as well as Frances main international airport. ... U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), part of the United States Department of Homeland Security, is charged with preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States. ...

Awards

Continental has recently earned other noteworthy recognitions and awards:

• No. 1 Most Admired Global Airline; FORTUNE magazine (2004, 2005, and 2006)
• No. 1 Most Admired U.S. Airline; FORTUNE magazine (2006)
• Best Executive/Business Class; OAG Airline of the Year Awards (2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006)
• Best Airline Based in North America; OAG Airline of the Year Awards (2004, 2005, and 2006)
• Best Trans-Atlantic and Trans-Pacific Business Class among U.S. airlines; Conde Nast Traveler (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006)
• Best Airline for Travel in North America, Best Flight Attendants in the US, and Best Inflight Service in the US by reader survey in the UK's Business Traveller magazine (December 2006)
• "Airline of the Year" by OAG
• Continental was also named "World's Most Admired Airline." by Yahoo
• Award for Highest- Ranked Network Airline by J.D. Power and Associates

Look up fortune in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... OAG is a global content management company specializing in travel and transport. ... Condé Nast Traveler is an American magazine published by Condé Nast Publications, started in 1987, specializing in travel, principally recreational for tourism, but also for business travellers. ... Yahoo! - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services firm founded in 1968 which provides consumer ratings on goods from cars to restaurants. ...

Destinations

Further information: Continental Airlines destinations and Former Continental Airlines Destinations

Continental Airlines Boeing 737-800 taxiing to gate 36 at San Diego International Airport. Continental is the second largest operator of the Boeing 737, behind Southwest Airlines.

Continental Airlines operates primarily a hub and spoke route network with hubs in Cleveland, Houston, and Newark, and a Micronesian hub in Guam. It operates most of its flights from its hubs, with the exception of some notable routes (most notably Seattle-Anchorage and Los Angeles-Honolulu). Continental Connection also operates flights not involving hubs, such as Florida-Bahamas service and some service in the U.S. Northeast. This is a list of airports that Continental Airlines flies to, and does not include cities only served by Continental Express, Continental Connection, and/or Continental Micronesia. ... List of destinations that Continental Airlines discontinued service to: Canada Alberta Edmonton (Edmonton International Airport) Bolivia Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Viru Viru International Airport) Chile Santiago (Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport) Categories: | ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... 737 in new Boeing Colors. ... FAA diagram of San Diego International Airport San Diego International Airport (IATA: SAN, ICAO: KSAN, FAA LID: SAN), also known as Lindbergh Field, is located in San Diego, California. ... This article is about the American airline. ... Continental Connection Continental Connection is a name under which several commuter airline carriers and their airline holding companies operate service marketed exclusively by Continental Airlines. ...

Continental has served Australia in the past with DC-10 service from Hawaii but eventually withdrew from the Australian market with the exception of less than daily 737 service between Cairns and Guam. Continental also operated a large hub in Denver but closed the hub in 1995 after Stapleton International Airport was closed and replaced with the current Denver International Airport. Stapleton highlighted on this map of Denvers neighborhoods. ... This article is about Denver International Airport. ...

Briefly during the mid-1990s, Continental operated a hub at Piedmont Triad International Airport, primarily as the base of its short-lived Continental Lite experiment but for other flights as well. The GSO hub was closed by 1995. Piedmont Triad International Airport (IATA: GSO, ICAO: KGSO, FAA LID: GSO) (commonly referred to as PTIA or just PTI) is an airport just west of Greensboro, serving Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem in North Carolina. ...

Continental was initially a domestic airline though it has served Mexican destinations for many years. It entered in transatlantic market in April, 1985 with the introduction of the Houston-London Gatwick flight. Current Bermuda II treaty obligations with the United Kingdom do not allow new entrant airlines to fly into London Heathrow, but the U.S. has awarded Continental route authority to Heathrow. The British have allowed Continental to codeshare with Virgin Atlantic into Heathrow but have not allowed Continental to exercise the route authority to actually fly aircraft into Heathrow that the U.S. has unilaterally granted.

However, as of March 2008, a new Open Skies Agreement with the EU takes effect, effectively invalidating Bermuda II restrictions limiting the number of carriers and cities in the US that can serve Heathrow. As a result, Continental is hoping to gain slots to fly into Heathrow. The Open Skies Agreement is a recently negotiated treaty between the United States and the European Union. ...

Continental flies to the most scheduled destinations of any US airline in India, Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, and is the only US airline to fly to the Federated States of Micronesia, Indonesia, Marshall Islands, Norway and Palau. It has the most scheduled international destinations of any U.S.-based airline if some Continental Express destinations to Mexico are included. Continental began service from Newark to Mumbai, India on October 1, 2007 making it Continental's second Indian destination. is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

On September 24, 2007 the Department of Transportation tentatively awarded Continental permission to begin daily direct service between Cleveland and Shanghai via Newark in March 2009. The route is planned to be operated with a Boeing 777 aircraft.^[13] is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Cleveland redirects here. ... For other uses, see Shanghai (disambiguation). ... Nickname: Map of Newark in Essex County County Founded/Incorporated 1666/1836 Government  - Mayor Cory Booker, term of office 2006–2010 Area [1]  - City 67. ...

Fleet

Continental's all-Boeing fleet with an average age of 8.9 years consists of the following aircraft:^[2]
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, based in Renton, Washington, is a unit of The Boeing Company, consisting of the Seattle-based former Boeing Airplane Company (the civil airliner division), as well as the Long Beach-based Douglas Aircraft division of the former McDonnell Douglas Corporation. ...