Continental Airlines to launch Flights to Heathrow from New York and Houston

Continental Airlines is to launch nonstop flights to London Heathrow from both its New York and Houston hubs on March 29, 2008, subject to government approval and slot approval.

Continental will offer twice-daily nonstop service to Heathrow from both Newark Liberty International Airport 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).

“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 transAtlantic travelers 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 flights 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 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.