Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines is a US-based air carrier with headquarters located in Houston, Texas. Its hubs are Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, George Bush International Airport and Newark Intercontinental Airport. It is the fourth largest air carrier in the United States based on passenger miles.
Its history dates back to 1934 when Varney Speed Lines was founded by Walter T. Varney together with Louis Mueller. It first flight was from Pueblo, Colorado to El Paso, Texas. In 1936, 40% of the company was sold to Robert F. Six, one of the innovators and pioneers in the US airline industry. The introduction of new owner led to Varney Speed Lines’ changing of name to Continental Airlines in 1937. Six didn’t only change the company name but also moved the headquarters from El Paso to Denver.
Continental Airlines’ merger with Pioneer Airlines in 1953 expanded its route that was previously limited to the El Paso-Albuquerque-Denver destinations. Pioneer Airlines’ route included 16 cities in Texas and New Mexico. Under Six’s helm, Continental Airlines pioneered several low and discount fares routes. In 1981 and 1982, Continental Airlines merged with Texas Air Corporation and Texas International Airlines (TI), respectively, both companies were controlled by Frank Lorenzo who also became the “new Continental” CEO and relocated the headquarters to Texas Air Base in Houston, Texas.
At present, Continental Airlines owns minority shares in ExpressJet Airlines which flies under the tradename Continental Express. It also owns Continental Micronesia, an airline that services Honolulu, Asia, Micronesia and Australia.
Its present slogan is Work Hard, Fly Right.
Domestic and International Destinations
Continental Airlines serves 145 domestic and 138 international destinations to the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific region.
International destinations include Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai in China; Tokyo in Japan; Delhi and Mumbai in India; Tel Aviv in Israel; Brussels in Belgium; Copenhagen in Denmark; Paris in France; Berlin, Frankfurt and Hamburg in Germany; Athens in Greece; Dublin and Shannon in Ireland; Milan and Rome in Italy; Amsterdam in Netherlands; Oslo in Norway; Lisbon in Portugal; Barcelona and Madrid in Spain; Stockholm in Sweden; Geneva and Zurich in Switzerland; Birmingham, Bristol, London, Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh and Glasgow in United Kingdom; Calgary, Vancouver, Halifax, Toronto and St. John’s in Canada; San Jose del Cabo, Mexico City, Leon, Acapulco, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo (seasonal), Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Monterrey, Cancun, Cozumel and Merida in Mexico; Antigua in Antigua and Barbuda; Nassau in Bahamas; Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and Santo Domingo in Dominican Republic; Montego Bay in Jamaica; Orajenstad in Aruba; Kralendijk in Bonaire; Philipsburg in St. Maarten; and Willemstead in Curacao; Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago; Ferry Reach in Bermuda; Grand Cayman in Cayman Islands; Belize City in Belize; Liberia and San Jose in Costa Rica; San Salvador in El Salvador; Guatemala City in Guatemala; Roatan, San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa in Honduras; Managua in Nicaragua; Panama City in Panama; Buenos Aires in Argentina; Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo in Brazil, Bogota in Colombia; Quito in Ecuador; Lima in Peru; and Caracas in Venezuela.
Continental airlines fly to key cities in the United States and its territories that include Birmingham in Alabama; Anchorage in Alaska; Phoenix and Tucson in Arizona; Los Angeles, Ontario, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Santa Ana/Orange County in California; Denver and Montrose in Colorado; Hartford/Springfield, Massachusetts in Connecticut; Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa Bay Area and West Palm Beach in Florida; Atlanta in Georgia; Honolulu in Hawaii; Chicago in Illinois; Indianapolis in Indiana; Baton Rouge and New Orleans in Louisiana; Baltimore in Maryland; Boston in Massachusetts; Minneapolis/Saint Paul in Minnesota; Kansas City and Saint Louis in Missouri; Omaha in Nebraska; Las Vegas in Nevada; Newark in New Jersey; Albuquerque in New Mexico; New York City in New York; Charlotte and Raleigh/Durham in North Carolina; Cleveland and Columbus in Ohio; Oklahoma City and Tulsa in Oklahoma; Portland in Oregon; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania; Providence in Rhode Island; Memphis in Tennessee; Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston and San Antonio in Texas; Salt Lake City in Utah; Washington DC in Virginia; Seattle/Tacoma in Washington; Milwaukee in Wisconsin; Aguadilla and San Juan in Puerto Rico and St. Thomas in United States Virgin Islands.
OnePass Frequent Flyer
OnePass is the frequent flyer programme of Continental Airlines. Loyal customers can get travel rewards to more than 500 destinations worldwide, be awarded with bonus mileage and enjoy special offers from its global network of commercial establishments. There are 70 OnePass partners globally where members can earn miles quickly and easily by using their services or by purchasing goods. OnePass partners include airlines, hotels, car rental companies, credit cards, debit cards, gift and shopping, communication and more.
OnePass Elite status, on the other hand, is earned based on distance travelled and fares purchased. Take note that Elite status is not based on OnePass account mileage balance but one may qualify for OnePass Elite membership upon reaching the required points. Members earn miles by using OnePass airlines and rail partners.
OnePass Elite has three-tier statuses namely Platinum, Gold and Silver. Depending on the status, benefits include complimentary, companion and upgrade notification; percentage Elite Mileage Bonus; priority in lines, waitlisting for reward seats, check-in, security screening, baggage handling, and boarding privileges; preferred economy class seating; confirmed reservations; lounge access and better reward availability.
Continental Airlines announced that it planned to withdraw from SkyTeam airline alliance and join Star Alliance instead to cooperate more with United Airlines and the alliance’s other airlines. Star Alliance is currently the largest airline alliance in the world. Until the transition is completed, Continental Airlines’ alliance with SkyTeam will be business-as-usual.
Awards and Recognition
For five consecutive years, Continental Airlines was recognized as No. 1 Most Admired Global Airline by Fortune Magazine from 2004 to 2008, Airline of the Year in 2004 and 2005 by OAG, World’s Most Admired Airline by Yahoo! and Award for Highest Ranked Network Airline by J.D. Power and Associates in 2007 to name a few.