Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL) will launch nonstop flights to London/Heathrow from both its New York and Houston hubs on Saturday, March 29, 2008. This will be the largest single-day international service expansion in the company's history.
The new Heathrow flights have been made possible by the new Open Skies agreement between the U.S. and the European Union. Until now, the airline has been prevented from operating to Heathrow by the restrictive U.S.-U.K. bilateral air services agreement. Continental's Flight 28 departing from Newark Liberty International Airport will be the first aircraft of the new-entrant carriers to arrive at Heathrow on March 30.
"Continental has waited a long time to gain access to Heathrow and this is a great day for us, as well as for all trans-Atlantic travelers," said Larry Kellner, Continental's chairman and CEO. "We can now provide our customers with what they have requested -- the opportunity to fly to both of London's main airports with their preferred airline."
Continental will offer twice-daily nonstop service to Heathrow from both Liberty and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The airline will continue to offer nonstop flights to London/Gatwick from both New York (twice daily) and Houston (daily), as well as Cleveland (daily, seasonal). Continental has served Gatwick Airport since 1985.
Effective March 29, 2008, Continental's London schedule will be as follows:
To Heathrow
Origin Flight Departure Arrival Frequency Aircraft type
no.
New York/EWR CO 18 9:00 a.m. 9:15 p.m. Daily 767-200ER
Houston CO 4 6:25 p.m. 9:35 a.m.* Daily 777
New York/EWR CO 28** 6:40 p.m. 6:45 a.m.* Daily 777
Houston CO 32 10:25 p.m. 2:05 p.m.* Daily 767-200ER
From Heathrow
Destination Flight Departure Arrival Frequency Aircraft type
no.
Houston CO 33 8:30 a.m. 1:05 p.m. Daily 767-200ER
New York/EWR CO 29 10:25 a.m. 1:15 p.m. Daily 777
Houston CO 5 11:15 a.m. 3:35 p.m. Daily 777
New York/EWR CO 19 4:00 p.m. 7:15 p.m. Daily 767-200ER
To Gatwick
Origin Flight Departure Arrival Frequency Aircraft
no. type
Houston CO 34 4:00 p.m. 7:45 a.m.* Daily 767-400ER
New York/EWR CO 114 6:35 p.m. 6:55 a.m.* Daily 757-200
Cleveland CO 66 6:25 p.m. 6:55a.m.* Daily, 757-200
seasonal
New York/EWR CO 116 8:25 p.m. 8:40 a.m.* Daily 757-200
From Gatwick
Destination Flight Departure Arrival Frequency Aircraft
no. type
Houston CO 35 9:30 a.m. 2:05 p.m. Daily 767-400ER
New York/EWR CO 115 10:30 a.m. 1:55 p.m. Daily 757-200
Cleveland CO 67 11:20 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Daily, 757-200
seasonal
New York/EWR CO 117 11:30 a.m. 2:55 p.m. Daily 757-200
* indicates next-day arrival
**For the period March 29, 2008-April 28, 2008 only, this flight will depart Liberty at 7:25 p.m. and arrive Heathrow at 7:30 a.m. the following day.
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 coach, and the 174-seat Boeing 767-200ER, with 25 BusinessFirst seats and 149 coach seats. The airline's Gatwick flights will be operated using the 235-seat Boeing 767-400ER, with 35 BusinessFirst seats and 200 coach seats, and the 175-seat Boeing 757-200, carrying 16 passengers in the BusinessFirst cabin and 159 in coach.
Continental's Heathrow flights will operate at Terminal 4, which will be the future base for all SkyTeam carriers operating at the airport. Flights to London from Liberty and Houston are easily accessible from numerous cities in the Americas on a connecting basis.
Heathrow will be the eighth U.K. airport to be served by Continental. The airline already operates nonstop trans-Atlantic flights to more airports in the U.K. and Ireland than any other airline: Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Gatwick and Manchester, as well as Dublin and Shannon.
In addition, Continental and Virgin Atlantic Airways codeshare on several Virgin Atlantic-operated flights serving Heathrow and Gatwick, as well as selected Continental-operated flights serving Gatwick. Heathrow will be the 31st destination in Continental's trans-Atlantic route network.
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