Continental Airlines

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 | Airline Travel

Continental Airlines is based in Houston, Texas, with hubs in Newark, New Jersey and Cleveland, Ohio as well.  Continental Airlines is the fourth largest airline in the United States and flies to destinations in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Continental offers more than 6,000 daily departures, serving hundreds of national and international destinations.  The airline employees almost 83,000 workers.

Continental Airlines is a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, partnering with Northwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Air France, Aeromexico, Alitalia and KLM.  Continental also has alliances with Amtrak train service and U.S. Helicopter in the United States, and SNCF French Rail in France. However, Continental plans to leave SkyTeam in October 2009 in order to join the Star Alliance.  Joining the Star Alliance allows Continental to work more closely with United Airlines.  Continental has been in merger talks with United off and on since 2006.  However, Continental plans to focus on the Star Alliance until October.

Continental’s frequent flyer program is called OnePass. Members earn miles on all Continental flights as well as flights on Copa, Aero Republica, and SkyTeam members. OnePass members can also earn miles on America’s rail carrier, Amtrak. All members of SkyTeam programs (Star Alliance programs after October 2009) can both earn and use frequent flyer miles on Continental.

Continental Airlines was founded in 1931 as Varney Speed Lines.  The company name was changed to Continental Airlines in 1937.  The airline was originally based in El Paso, Texas and offered service to New Mexico, Colorado and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Continental is a pioneer in the lower fare moment, introducing its first coach fares in 1962. It has been flying to Europe since 1985.

Continental Airlines was also the first American airline to hire an African-American pilot, in 1963, as well as the first U.S. carrier successfully to fly through bankruptcy.

The company recently announced another first with the demonstration of the biofuel-powered flight by any commercial airline in the U.S. The fuel was a special blend extracted from algae and jatrophra seeds. The company intends to continue working with biofuels, as part of a comprehensive effort to reduce air travel’s environmental footprint. Continental offers its passengers the opportunity to buy carbon offsets, the money used to replant deforested areas, for just two dollars per ticket. The US Environmental Protection Agency has recognized Continental for its continuing efforts at green transportation.

Every Continental jet was built by Boeing, whether 737, 757, 767, and 777. The airline plans to add the Boeing Dreamliner 787 to its fleet before 2012. Continental’s exclusive agreement with Boeing dates from 1990, although the European Union ruled that the contract was void when Boeing acquired its rival McDonnell Douglas in 1997. For all practical purposes, however, the exclusive relationship between Continental and Boeing has continued.

Continental has struggled financially over the past few years, like most United States airlines.  The airline reported losing millions of dollars in 2008 due to increased fuel costs and airline pilot retirement expenses.


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