|
|
|
|
|
STARTING WITH ORVILLE AND WILBUR WRIGHT, aviation has seen many family members who have worked together as crew members. Recently at Continental, one family took that concept a step further by taking all five of the FAA-required pilot and flight attendant positions on a single flight.
On June 8, Captain Dewey Lockwood Jr. and four of his relatives — all Continental employees — made up the entire crew on Flight 1683, a Boeing 737, from Houston to El Paso. Together, the family members possess about 75 years of service with Continental.
Joining Captain Lockwood on the flight deck was his son, First Officer Dewey Lockwood III. In the passenger cabin, Captain Lockwood’s wife, flight attendant Sandi Lockwood, was in charge of the inflight service. Assisting her was her sister, flight attendant Nancy Cortez, and Nancy’s husband, flight attendant Raymond Cortez.
The flight was especially meaningful for Captain Lockwood because he is turning 60 this month and is required to retire under FAA rules.
“Being part of Continental is like being part of a big family,” says Captain Lockwood. “I’ve been lucky because I’ve been able to work alongside my own family members inside the big Continental family.”
– Lockwood Tallman
|
|
| |
|
Continental’s customers say one of the things they appreciate most about the airline is its clean, new airplanes. With one of the youngest fleets in the sky, Continental has a big advantage in this area — and with 88 new aircraft on order, we don’t plan to lose it.
Recently Continental announced orders for more new jets, including doubling the number of long-range Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which will be used on international flights. Ten additional 787s were ordered in June, bringing the total number of 787s the company has on order to 20. Continental is the largest U.S. customer for Boeing’s newest widebody aircraft.
The Boeing 787 is the optimal aircraft to support Continental’s strategy for continued international growth. With expanded range capabilities, unmatched fuel efficiency, and superior operating economics, the 787s will allow Continental to replace less efficient widebody aircraft, such as the company’s 767-200, and target additional long-haul markets. The first of Continental’s 20 Boeing 787 aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2009.
In addition, Continental will acquire 24 more Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, bringing the total number of Next-Generation 737s in its fleet to 213 when these and previously ordered aircraft are delivered.
One of the world’s most popular and reliable aircraft, the Next-Generation 737s feature advanced technology for greater operational efficiencies. The new 737s will give Continental the flexibility to continue to grow while replacing older, less efficient “737 classic” aircraft, such as 737-300s. The first additional 737NGs are scheduled for delivery in 2008.
— L.T.
back to the beach
After the Yucatán Peninsula got slammed by Hurricane Wilma in October 2005, beach lovers feared that the damage would prevent them from going back to one of their favorite resort destinations. But a lot has changed in just 10 months. Continental has restored nearly all its flights between the United States and Cancún. We now have more than 60 flights per week to Cancún — almost 90 percent of the available capacity pre-Wilma.
Meanwhile, reconstruction of the local tourism infrastructure is well under way. Newly renovated hotels and restaurants are open, and beaches are being rehabilitated with transplanted sand.
— L.T.
|
| |
|
Passports Required
If you are a U.S. citizen who has become accustomed to traveling by air to Canada or Mexico with documents other than a passport, please note that a passport will soon be required on these trips. For travel in 2007, Continental will be required to check that any U.S. traveler to or from Canada or Mexico has a valid passport — otherwise federal documentation requirements will not be met and travel cannot occur. If you need a passport, apply early. More information is available at travel.state.gov.
– L.T.
|
| |
|
Winning Together
Continental won two major prizes in the OAG Airline of the Year Awards 2006. For the fourth year in a row, Continental won Best Executive/Business Class. This award recognizes  the excellent comfort, service, and value of BusinessFirst. Continental also won Best Airline Based in North America for the third year in a row. The awards are based on votes by frequent flyers around the world.
At the awards ceremony, OAG’s Outstanding Service Award 2006 was presented to WE CARE Manager Maria Benson (below, center) in recognition of her dedication and inspiring leadership in helping co-workers who were victims of Hurricane Katrina. “We’re extremely proud of Maria because she truly exemplifies the Working Together spirit that is so unique to the culture of Continental,” says Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner.
– L.T.
|
| |
|
Everywhere Man
 Customers often remark that Continental’s Los Angeles–based regional sales manager, Juan Carlos de Pablo, is everywhere. One of the key players credited with successfully launching Continental’s mini-Latin hub from Los Angeles to five Mexico markets, de Pablo spends countless hours in the Hispanic communities, along with the rest of his team, drumming up business for Continental’s new flights. De Pablo also regularly volunteers to help those in need by supporting numerous events in the area, including Para Los Nińos (For the Children), Rotary Club of San Francisco, and the Mission Hispanic Branch, which helps impoverished children in El Salvador and Guatemala.
De Pablo consistently exceeds sales goals and has received several awards from Continental during his nearly 10 years working at the airline. In addition, his selfless actions and dedication to the community have earned him recognition from chambers of congress representing Peru, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala.
— Julie King
|
| |
|
On Broadway
Continental invites you to join more than 50,000 theater fans as they congregate at the Crossroads of the World to celebrate the beginning of a new Broadway season. Broadway on Broadway®, a free annual outdoor concert, takes place Sunday, September 10, at 11:30 a.m., and features more than 200 performers and a full orchestra on a giant open-air stage. The concert also includes celebrity appearances and musical numbers from the shows that make Broadway New York City’s single largest tourist attraction, plus sneak previews of the new musicals and plays set to open this fall.
Broadway on Broadway is co-produced by the League of American Theatres and Producers and the Times Square Alliance. This free event is presented in part by Continental Airlines, the Official Airline of Live Broadway. For more information visit BroadwayOnBroadway.com.
— Ben Pesner
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
