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From the EditorThere's something about birthdays and anniversaries that makes us nostalgic about the past — and enthused about what's ahead. That's the case with Continental, as the airline celebrates 75 years this month. As we began our work on this commemorative issue, just about everyone on the magazine staff had a favorite Continental memory. The one that sticks with me most goes back to my college days — it was Continental I flew, five or six times a year, between my hometown of Los Angeles and Denver. I'm dating myself, but Robert Six (read "Setting the Course - With Class" here) was running Continental back then. Those Continental flights remain among my fondest college memories, as I was always so excited to reach my destination at either end — and I actually had a great time in college. But the flights were terrific. And so is the history of Continental, which is the focus of this issue. Before delving into Continental's story, you might want turn to "75 Years by the Decade" here, for a look back at the remarkable innovations, events, social changes, and people that have changed our world since 1934. That was the year Continental got its start as Varney Speed Lines, with a single-engine Lockheed Vega plane that carried mail from Pueblo, Colo., to El Paso, Texas. Back then, no one imagined this little upstart venture would one day become the third-largest airline in the United States. But Continental succeeded, despite a 1982 takeover, two bankruptcies, and other challenges along the way. When others thought Continental would disappear, the company's leaders and, above all, its employees hunkered down time and again to keep the airline flying — and today Continental is the sixth-largest carrier in the world. For a fascinating tale with many unexpected twists, read "The History of Continental" here. Happy reading and happy travels. Gail Harrington, Editor Contributor Bio A busy freelance writer for 30 years, Robert McGarvey has written more than 1,500 articles for many of the nation's leading publications, from Reader's Digest to Playboy and from the New York Times to Harvard Business Review. While he writes frequently on a wide range of business topics, McGarvey is a serious foodie who is just as likely to be writing about the next hot restaurant. A regular contributor to Continental since 2001, McGarvey says, "What's exciting about the history of Continental is that its growth mirrors America's evolution — the push to the coasts (and beyond), led by visionary entrepreneurs such as Bob Six. The airline's story of success blends vision with technology (new, better planes) and bold gambles on a better tomorrow. Working on this issue's look back at Continental's 75-year history was, for me, a reminder also of what's exciting about the nation's past — and its future."
We welcome letters from our readers: Letters about this magazine should be sent to the Editor, Continental magazine, 99 Bedford Street, Floor 5, Boston, MA 02111, or e-mailed to continental@pohlyco.com. Letters must be signed and include the writer’s address, daytime telephone number, and e-mail address, when possible. We reserve the right to edit letters for space and clarity.
Photographs: Brian Urkevic (Harrington) |
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