Welcome aboard. On behalf of my more than 44,000 co-workers, I thank you for choosing Continental Airlines for your flight today. We know that the world is getting more and more global every day and that our customers want to be able to reach more international destinations, whether for business or pleasure. Today, we will operate more than 3,100 flights to 144 domestic and 138 international destinations. Maintaining a balanced global route network is a major aspect of our business plan and has been for over a decade. We continue to add new destinations each year.
On the transatlantic front, in 2007, we will add new service between our New York–area hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and both Athens, Greece, and Mumbai, India. The new service to Athens launches this month, and service to Mumbai is scheduled to begin in October. Mumbai will be the 30th city in Continental’s transatlantic route network.
With the new open skies agreement between the U.S. and the European Union, we plan to inaugurate service to London’s Heathrow Airport from Houston on March 30, 2008, subject to government approval and our obtaining necessary slots and facilities at Heathrow Airport. Our customers have always wanted more options for accessing London, and the open skies agreement will allow us to give our customers the convenience of choosing between Heathrow and Gatwick for their London travel plans.
Our network to Latin America and the Caribbean continues to expand as well. This month, we will begin twice-weekly flights between George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, and Loreto, Mexico, our 31st Mexican destination. Continental already offers service to more destinations in Mexico than any other U.S. airline.
Also this year, we are adding the first ever nonstop scheduled service between our Cleveland hub and Quebec’s Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB). The seasonal flight will enhance Continental’s existing service to Quebec from our New York Liberty hub. Our Cleveland-area passengers can also look forward to new service between Hopkins International Airport and Paris, France, starting in 2008.
We continue to support our international route network with a strong system of domestic destinations. Beginning in September, we will offer the first-ever daily nonstop service between Jackson, Miss., and New York Liberty.
Of course, our strong international route network wouldn’t be possible without a continued commitment to our facilities, fleet, product, and — most important — our people. It is my industry-leading co-workers who make the difference between a good flight and a great flight, and thanks to them I am proud to say that Continental has been named the World’s Most Admired airline by Fortune magazine for the fourth year in a row.
In Continental Notebook, you can read about one example of how Continental’s employees make all the difference: Carroll Tennant, a Houston-based sales supervisor, organized the Continental rest stop for this year’s March of Dimes WalkAmerica event in Houston.
Once again, thank you for choosing to fly with us today. We appreciate your business and we hope to see you again soon.
Larry Kellner
Chairman and CEO
Continental Airlines
