Continental Airlines signs codeshare agreement with Maersk Air of Denmark

Continental Airlines has signed a codeshare agreement with Maersk Air of Denmark, which will enable customers to make quicker and easier connections to and from the Danish cities of Copenhagen and Billund, via London/Gatwick and Amsterdam. A marketing agreement between the two airlines also provides for OnePass frequent flyer program benefits.

For travel effective February 2004, subject to government approval, Continental will place its code (CO*) on Maersk Air's flights between both Copenhagen and Billund and London/Gatwick and on its flights between Billund and Amsterdam, which connect with Continental's flights between London/Gatwick and Amsterdam and the airline's hubs at New York/Newark, Houston and Cleveland.

Continental customers will need to check in only once for these flights, receiving seat assignments and boarding passes through to their final destination, as well as seamless luggage transfers.

Members of Continental's frequent flyer program, OnePass, will be able to earn and redeem miles on Continental codeshare flights operated by Maersk Air.

The codeshare agreement will improve connections to all parts of Denmark for Continental customers - particularly those traveling to and from New York and Houston and points beyond - and will also complement Continental's European route network.

"Continental is very enthusiastic about our new cooperation with Maersk," said David Grizzle, Continental's Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. "Historically, Continental has not served the Billund region of Denmark and we look forward to working with Maersk to expand our Danish service and improve our business mix. Continental views this alliance as an initial step to greater cooperation in Denmark and in particular with the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group." 

Maersk Air, part of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, is Denmark's leading privately-owned airline and is engaged in international scheduled services, charter flights, leasing of aircraft and freight agency activities. The airline commenced operation in 1970 and from a modest beginning with a fleet of three small turbo propeller planes, Maersk Air today has 44 aircraft and employs 1,300 dedicated staff in Denmark and abroad.