Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) tomorrow will begin daily nonstop service between Houston's George Bush Intercontinental
Airport, the airline's largest hub, and Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
"Inaugurating a transatlantic service is a rare thing in these difficult
times for our industry, but we are confident this route will be successful
for us," said Barry Simon, Continental's senior vice president -
international. "This is another important step in the development of our
European route network. There is a great deal of business between Houston
and Amsterdam which we look forward to serving."
Continental flight 46 will depart Houston daily at 7 p.m., arriving in
Amsterdam at 11:40 a.m. the next morning. Flight 47 will depart Amsterdam at
3:25 p.m., arriving at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport at
7:15 p.m. the same day. Flying times are approximately 9 hours, 40 minutes
eastbound and 10 hours, 50 minutes westbound.
Amsterdam is the third European city served nonstop from Houston by
Continental, after London and Paris, and one of more than 140 cities
worldwide that Continental serves nonstop from Houston. Continental also
operates daily nonstop service between New York/Newark and Amsterdam,
launched in 1999. In Amsterdam, connections are available to a host of
destinations via Continental's OnePass partner, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
Through July 1, Continental is offering 2,000 bonus miles to members of
OnePass, Continental's award-winning frequent flyer program, who fly between
Houston and Amsterdam.
Continental's nonstop flights to Amsterdam are operated with 174-seat Boeing
767-200 aircraft, carrying 25 passengers in the BusinessFirst cabin and 149
in coach.
These new aircraft feature a two-class seating configuration, consisting of
2-1-2 in BusinessFirst and 2-3-2 in coach, designed to give most passengers
a window or aisle seat. In BusinessFirst this configuration offers
individual seats in the center section of the cabin. Every seat on the
aircraft has an individual video screen and satellite telephone. The
aircraft are equipped with oversized overhead storage bins, adjustable
winged headrests, laptop computer power ports at every seat in BusinessFirst
and select rows in coach and a cappuccino coffee machine.
The new flights feature Continental's award-winning BusinessFirst
service, voted Best Long-Haul Executive/Business Class in the OAG Airline of the
Year Awards 2001. This premium-class cabin features extra-wide electronic
sleeper seats with 55-inch pitch, adjustable winged headrests and personal
video screens. Other BusinessFirst amenities include gourmet menus and
award-winning wines and champagnes.
In 2001, the Houston Airport System (HAS) served more than 43.5 million
travelers and is the fourth largest multi-airport system in the nation and
the sixth largest in the world. Bush Intercontinental (IAH) Airport is
currently the ninth largest passenger airport in the United States handling
more than 34.8 million passengers in 2001. HAS is currently under a $2.8
billion multi-year expansion and renovation program that includes a new
runway (IAH's fifth overall), taxiway improvements, a consolidated rental
car facility, a new International Services Building, an additional
international terminal and a 160-acre new cargo facility.
Continental Airlines is the fifth largest airline in the U.S., offering more
than 2,100 departures daily to 120 domestic and 91 international
destinations. Operating hubs in Houston, New York, Cleveland and Guam,
Continental serves more international cities than any other U.S. carrier,
including extensive service throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. |
