WELCOME ABOARD, AND THANK YOU for choosing Continental Airlines for your flight today. At Continental, we’re committed to providing you with the cleanest, safest, and most reliable transportation in the skies. My 43,000 co-workers strive to ensure your satisfaction each day.
You may have read in the news that most airlines today are feeling the crunch of high fuel prices, which have been squeezing our bottom lines. While fuel hedges can sometimes help in the short term with fuel prices, the best way to control the cost of fuel is to maintain an efficient fleet.
At Continental, we can fly one seat one mile using about 25 percent less fuel than we could back in 1998. The biggest reason for this improvement is that we fly a new jet fleet. In 1997, we put into place a fleet modernization program to help guide the decisions we make in managing our fleet. Not only does a young, modern fleet lead to fuel savings, it helps with maintenance costs as well.
We have also made a number of changes in our operating procedures, and I give my co-workers credit for establishing and implementing fuel-saving initiatives. My co-workers have also worked hard on our blended winglets project. Blended winglets are the curved tips you see on some of our 737-700s, 737-800s, and 757-200s. By reducing drag on the aircraft, winglets enable up to a 5 percent reduction in fuel burn. If you look out your window, you may even see them on the aircraft you’re flying on today.
In June, we announced that we’re doubling our order for the new Boeing 787. We have 20 of these widebody aircraft on order, making Continental the largest U.S. customer for this type of airplane. The first of our 787s will be delivered in 2009, and they will allow us to continue to grow internationally and to retire older, less efficient aircraft.
The 787 is a true game-changer. It is about 20 percent more fuel efficient than current widebodies. It’s also quieter than current aircraft and has a more spacious and comfortable passenger cabin, providing up to 8 percent more oxygen for passengers. It has more cargo space, as well as more personal storage space for passengers. The 787 is truly the aircraft of the future for long-haul markets. I know you’re going to enjoy it.
If you click on the Notebook section of this magazine, you can read about my co-worker Dan Drespling, a warehouse lead at Continental’s catering company, Chelsea Food Services. Dan works at our Chelsea warehouse in Cleveland, and he’s been named Chelsea’s Employee of the Month several times due to his positive, can-do attitude and work ethic.
On behalf of Dan Drespling, and all of my 43,000 outstanding co-workers, thank you again for your continued support of Continental Airlines. We hope to see you on another flight soon.
Larry Kellner
Chairman and CEO
Continental Airlines
