This month, Continental is welcoming a new aircraft into its fleet — the Boeing 737-900ER. The newest member of the Next Generation 737 airplane family, the 737-900ER, can fly more people farther than any of its predecessors.

Continental is the North American launch customer for the 737-900ER and currently has 27 of the new Boeing model on order. Continental this year expects to take delivery of an average of two or three new 737s per month, which includes a mix of the 737-900ERs and 737-800s (a slightly smaller aircraft), meaning many travelers will enjoy flights on factory-fresh Continental jets in 2008.

The airplanes are a part of Continental’s comprehensive fleet strategy, which focuses on improving operational efficiency and customer comfort. As new aircraft such as the 737-900ER and 737-800 are added to the fleet, older aircraft are retired, reducing the average age of the fleet. Newer aircraft also tend to achieve better fuel efficiency and generate fewer emissions. In the past 10 years, Continental has recorded a 35 percent improvement in fuel efficiency, mainly as a result of fleet modernization.

Continental currently operates a dozen 737-900s. But the new “ER” (which stands for Extended Range) version is different because it can fly 500 miles farther than its predecessors. Continental will configure the new aircraft with 20 first-class seats and 153 economy-class seats. Like the existing 737-900s, the new ER aircraft also have a mid-cabin lavatory for added passenger convenience.

The 737-900ER model is powered by new CFM56-7 engines produced by CFMI, a joint venture of General Electric Co. of the United States and Snecma of France. The engines meet strict international noise restrictions.

Over the past decade, Continental Airlines has outranked all its U.S. competitors in international business-class and domestic first-class service, according to a survey of Condé Nast Traveler readers.

A variety of criteria were used to determine overall rankings, including seat comfort and legroom, food, cabin service, amenities and technology, airport lounge clubs, and frequent-flyer privileges.

Continental’s renowned BusinessFirst service has topped the international premium-class service offered by the airline’s U.S. peers in the Condé Nast Traveler rankings since 1998. In addition, BusinessFirst has won the Best Executive/Business Class award in the OAG Airline of the Year Awards, based on voting by frequent flyers worldwide, five years in a row (2003–2007).

In the 2007 Condé Nast Traveler rankings, Continental also placed highest among U.S. carriers for domestic premium-class service. In addition, survey participants ranked Continental’s seat comfort/legroom, airport lounge clubs, and frequent-flyer privileges first among all major U.S. carriers.

The Condé Nast Traveler rankings were compiled from a survey of more than 2,000 frequent business travelers.

Continental Airlines customers who find themselves short on cash can stop by one of the six new Chase ATM machines in Concourse C at Newark Liberty International Airport. Chase has more than 8,500 ATMs and more than 3,000 branches nationwide. You can also earn OnePass miles for all your qualifying debit card purchases when you bank with Chase. To learn more, visit chase.com/milesforchecking.

Excitement is building for the 21st annual ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run, which takes place in downtown Houston March 1. The event is a fun way for Texans to raise funds for college scholarships that are awarded to students through the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund. The Texas flavor and hospitality, combined with a Texas-size post-race party, makes the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run one of the most popular and memorable races in the region. The event attracts more than 7,000 participants a year.

For two decades, the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run has helped students fulfill their dreams with college scholarships. The event has contributed more than $1.8 million to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Educational Fund since it began in 1988. Last year, the Rodeo Run set a new record by contributing $160,000 to the fund.

Many of the participants dress in costumes and compete in a contest to win awards for Best Dressed or Most Spirited. All 10K race winners will receive a custom etched-glass trophy, an official “Go Texan” cowboy hat, and two round-trip Continental Airlines tickets. The 5K Fun Run is a noncompetitive, nontimed event.

The title sponsor of the event, ConocoPhillips, is an integrated energy company based in Houston. More than 1,100 volunteers, including ConocoPhillips employees, retirees, contractors, family members, and friends, help plan and administer the race from start to finish allowing the company to contribute entry fee proceeds to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Educational Fund.

The wheelchair race starts at 9:40 a.m. and the 10K and 5K fun run/walk will begin at 9:45 a.m. All races start at the corner of Texas and Smith streets and finish at Minute Maid Park. Those interested in participating can register online at conocophillipsrodeorun.com. For more information about the race, call the Rodeo Run hotline at 281.293.2447.

When Continental Airlines Aircraft Maintenance Technician Eldon Criswell took up bike racing the year he turned 50, he had no idea that his new hobby would result in his winning the Texas Cup Track State Championship. He won the title in 2004, 2005, and 2006 in the 50+ Masters division.

“The fastest I’ve clocked myself is 43.3 miles per hour during a 44-degree bank turn,” says Criswell, who averages 90 bike races a year in Dallas and Houston. “The race bike I use has only one gear and no brakes. Once you get moving it takes some time to finally slow down and stop.”

Now Criswell is training to move to the next level. “I’ve been at it now for seven years and I am still improving all the time. My goal is to compete at the national level in 2009 and the world championship level in 2010. I am still not at the peak of my performance, and I am striving for that before I advance to the next level.”

When not racing, Criswell puts the same passion into his love of aviation. “I really enjoy working on Continental’s Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft,” he says. “I perform aircraft maintenance in sheet metal.”

Criswell has worked for eight years at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport, which is less than five miles from where he grew up. He used to ride his bike to Hobby to watch planes, and later he learned to fly in the local Civil Air Patrol. He continued to follow his passion for aviation and today is a highly experienced pilot with more than 6,000 flight hours.