Continental Airlines Receives Tentative DOT Authority for Daily Nonstop Flights Between Houston and Rio de Janeiro
March 20 2009 - 5:40PM
PR Newswire (US)
Authority includes through flight service to New Orleans HOUSTON,
March 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL)
today announced that it has received tentative approval from the
Department of Transportation (DOT) to operate daily year-round
service between its Houston hub at Bush Intercontinental Airport
and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and through flight service between New
Orleans and Rio de Janeiro beginning summer 2009, pending final
government approvals. "Continental is delighted to receive
tentative authority for this route, which links two important
energy markets," said Jeff Smisek, Continental's president and
chief operating officer. "We thank our co-workers and our corporate
and agency clients, as well as the many federal, state and local
officials who wrote letters in support of the application. We also
are grateful to the City of Houston and Houston Airport System and
the City of New Orleans and Louis Armstrong New Orleans
International Airport, which filed exhibits in support of
Continental's route proposal." Continental plans to operate the
daily service using a Boeing 767-200 aircraft, with 25 seats in
BusinessFirst and 149 seats in economy. The proposed nonstop flight
will be timed to offer convenient flight connections at
Continental's Houston hub to cities throughout the U.S., Canada,
Europe, Asia and Latin America. The airline currently operates
daily nonstop service between Continental's New York hub at Newark
Liberty International Airport and Sao Paulo's Guarulhos
International Airport and between Houston and Sao Paulo, with
continuing service to Rio de Janeiro. Continental Airlines is the
world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with
Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,800
daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving
135 domestic and 132 international destinations. More than 650
additional points are served via alliance partners. With more than
42,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston,
Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries
approximately 67 million passengers per year. Celebrating its 75th
anniversary this year, Continental consistently earns awards and
critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture.
For the sixth consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental
the No. 1 World's Most Admired Airline on its 2009 list of World's
Most Admired Companies. For more company information, go to
continental.com. DATASOURCE: Continental Airlines CONTACT:
Corporate Communications of Continental Airlines, +1-713-324-5080,
Web Site: http://www.continental.com/
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