Continental Airlines to launch twice-daily non-stop flights from Heathrow to both New York and Houston
December 14 2007
First flights to depart Heathrow on March 30 2008
Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL), the world's fifth largest airline, recently announced that it intends to launch non-stop flights between London/Heathrow and both its New York and Houston hubs on March 30, 2008 (westbound), subject to government approval and slot approval.
From Heathrow, Continental will offer twice-daily non-stop services to both Newark Liberty International Airport and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The airline will continue to offer non-stop services from London/Gatwick to both New York (twice daily) and Houston (daily), as well as Cleveland (daily, seasonal).
"At last we will be able to give our customers something they have long requested - the opportunity to fly to both London's main airports with their preferred airline," said Larry Kellner, Continental's chairman and CEO. "At the same time, we will be able to show trans-Atlantic travellers already using Heathrow what they have been missing. We look forward to the chance to compete at Europe's most important business airport."
The new Heathrow services have been made possible by the Open Skies agreement between the U.S. and the European Union signed earlier this year, and by Continental's acquisition of the necessary slots at Heathrow Airport. Until now, the airline has been prevented from operating to Heathrow by the restrictive U.S.-U.K. bilateral air services agreement. Continental has served Gatwick Airport since 1985.
Continental's Heathrow flights will be operated using two aircraft types: the 283-seat Boeing 777-200, carrying 48 passengers in the BusinessFirst cabin and 235 in Economy, and the 174-seat Boeing 767-200ER, with 25 BusinessFirst seats and 149 Economy seats. The airline's Gatwick flights will be operated using the 235-seat Boeing 767-400ER, with 35 BusinessFirst seats and 200 Economy Class seats, and the 175-seat Boeing 757-200, carrying 16 passengers in the BusinessFirst cabin and 159 in Economy.
Continental's Heathrow flights will operate from Terminal 4, which will be the future base for all SkyTeam carriers operating at the airport.
Passengers arriving at New York Liberty and Houston on Continental flights from Heathrow will be able to connect quickly and easily with flights to destinations throughout the Americas. From New York Liberty, the airline operates over 400 flights daily to more than 230 destinations, including more than 120 served non-stop. From Houston, its largest hub, Continental operates over 700 daily services to more than 230 destinations, including more than 170 served non-stop.
The Heathrow flights will feature Continental's renowned BusinessFirst service, which has won the Best Executive/Business Class award in the OAG Airline of the Year Awards in each of the past five years, based on voting by frequent flyers worldwide. BusinessFirst was also voted Best Transatlantic Business Class among U.S. airlines in Conde Nast Traveler magazine's Business Travel Awards 2007 - for the 10th year running.
This premium-class cabin features specially-engineered electronic sleeperseats with a 55-inch seat pitch and adjustable "winged" headrests. BusinessFirst seat dimensions vary slightly according to aircraft type, but all feature personal inflight entertainment systems and laptop computer power outlets. Other BusinessFirst amenities include gourmet menu selections created by Continental's Congress of Chefs. A specially selected and trained corps of more than 200 Concierges provides individualized pre-flight and post-flight services for BusinessFirst customers at 35 key international airports worldwide.
Heathrow will be the eighth U.K. airport to be served by Continental. The airline already operates non-stop trans-Atlantic services from more airports in the U.K. and Ireland than any other airline: Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London/Gatwick and Manchester, as well as Dublin and Shannon.
In addition, Continental and Virgin Atlantic Airways codeshare on several Virgin Atlantic-operated flights from London/Heathrow and London/Gatwick, as well as selected Continental-operated flights from London/Gatwick.
Heathrow will be the 31st destination in Continental's trans-Atlantic route network.
Continental's U.K. reservations number is 0845 60 767 60. Customers can also book online at continental.com/uk.
Issued on behalf of Continental Airlines by Trimedia Harrison Cowley.
For further information, please contact George Morrison or Ruth Law on 020 7025 7500 / george.morrison@trimediahc.com / ruth.law@trimediahc.com.