SimAirline.net - Viewpoint (Entries tagged as Continental)

Continental Moving Timetables

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:48:00 -0700

Continental Airlines will exit SkyTeam after today's flights are concluded and join Star Alliance on 27 October. This means there will be two days in which Continental flights will not appear in either downloadable timetable. You may also need to update your Star Alliance Timetable to see Continental's schedules (the 17 October version did not include Continental flights). Because of the two-day gap, there are a few options for pilots flying Continental flights:
1) Take a break: probably not a desirable option.
2) Use the SkyTeam Timetable: because the SkyTeam Timetable only looks at forward dates, not backward dates, you would need to set your computer's system date backwards a few days to look at last week's schedules. Please use this only if you are confident in your ability to do so.
3) Use the Star Alliance Timetable: look ahead a few days.
4) Use the Continental Timetable program or PDF: please use this only if you are confident that you can pick valid flights and fly the correct aircraft type.

Slot Swap

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:04:00 -0700

Delta Air Lines today announced that it would double its presence at New York LaGuardia by trading assets with US Airways. Delta will take over the current US Airways Terminal and connect the two facilities, while US Airways will move into the Marine Air Terminal, originally operated by Pan Am and today primarily by Delta Shuttle. The move will increase Delta's presence from 16 to 27 gates and 148 to 272 daily flights.

In exchange, US Airways will receive 42 slots from Delta at Washington Reagan, forcing Delta to reduce service from 89 to 55 daily flights. US Airways will also receive route authorities from Delta to serve Sao Paulo Guarulhos and Tokyo Narita.

Delta will serve over 30 destinations from LaGuardia, although a list of new services has not been announced. US Airways meanwhile announced service to 15 new destinations from Reagan, including four served by Delta or Northwest today: Cincinnati, Des Moines, Grand Rapids, and Madison.

Over the last decade, Delta has been boosting its New York presence, primarily at JFK, while US Airways has been reducing its service from LaGuardia, but maintaining its leading position at Washington Reagan. The deal will require government approval. The day before, Continental Airlines reached a smaller deal with AirTran Airways in which AirTran would cease service at Newark and give its gate and its 10 slots to Continental in exchange for four slots at LaGuardia and six slots at Reagan.

This topic is being discussed on the Message Boards.

Continental CEO Kellner to Depart

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:41:00 -0700

Continental Airlines announced today that Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner will depart the airline on January 1 and start a new private equity firm, Emerald Creek. He will be succeeded by President and COO Jeffery Smisek.

Kellner has been with Continental since 1995, when he joined as CFO. He became president and joined the Board of Directors in 2001, added the COO title in 2003, and became chairman and CEO the following year. During his tenure, Continental won more customer awards than any other airline and helped lead the airline's extensive international growth.

Smisek also joined Continental in 1995 as senior vice president and general counsel. He became president in 2004 and COO last year.

Continental Celebrates 75 Years

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:51:00 -0700

Continental Airlines celebrated 75 years of service today. The airline traces its history back to Varney Speed Lines, which first flew on 15 July 1934 from Pueblo, CO to El Paso, TX, via Las Vegas, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque. Walter T. Varney was also the founder of Varney Airlines of Boise, which is today known as United Airlines, Continental's new global partner.

As part of Continental's 75th anniversary, the airline received a 737-900ER in the "Blue Skyway" livery that dates back to the 1940s. Below are a few links worth visiting to learn more about Continental's history.

75th Anniversary Video
Airchive - Memorabilia
Airchive - Timetables and Route Maps
Company Website - History
Continental Magazine - History

Continental Granted Antitrust Immunity

nospam@example.com (Dennis Negrón) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:37:00 -0700

The Department of Transportation has granted Continental Airlines antitrust immunity for their planned partnership with United Airlines and eight other Star Alliance members. This means that Continental has cleared the final hurdle towards starting a global joint venture with other Star Alliance members.

It is expected that Continental will join Star Alliance immediately after its last flight on October 24, ending its participation in SkyTeam.

This topic is being discussed on the Message Boards.

Continental Captain Dies In Flight

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:26:06 -0700

On board Continental Airlines Flight 61 from Brussels to Newark yesterday, Captain Craig Lenell, 60, died in the cockpit of natural causes. Passengers on board were not informed of the captain's death, and a reserve pilot took Lenell's place. A Belgian doctor, Julien Struyven, tried to revive him using a defibrilator, but without success. The aircraft in question was a 777-200ER.

Under recently passed U.S. legislation, airline pilots may continue to serve until age 65, although their medical certificate must be renewed every six months and they may only serve as pilot in command internationally if the other pilot is under age 60. Two years ago, a Continental 757 flight from Houston Bush to Puerto Vallarta landed in McAllen, TX after a pilot died.

Captain Lenell was based on Newark, resided in Texas, and had flown for Continental for 32 years. He is survived by his wife and six children. Our condolences go to his family, friends, and to Continental.

This topic is being discussed on the Message Boards.

Continental Halves Mexico Capacity

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Sat, 02 May 2009 16:36:43 -0700

Following Air Canada's suspension of several Mexico cities, Continental has announced that it will reduce its capacity on Mexico routes by 50%, effective 4 May. Most of this cut is due to a 40% reduction in frequencies. Continental has not discontinued service to any of its destinations in the country.

These changes should be available in the 1 May version of the SkyTeam Timetable.

Colgan Air Crash in Buffalo

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:23:23 -0800

Continental Flight 3407, a Dash 8-400 operated by Colgan Air from Newark to Buffalo, crashed last night into a house on approach, killing all 49 on board and one on the ground. There were an additional four injuries on the ground. Limited information is available at this time.

This topic is being discussed on the Message Boards.

More Dash 8-400s for Continental

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:33:04 -0800

Continental Connection partner Colgan Air has ordered fifteen additional Dash 8-400s, bringing their total order to 30. Deliveries will be between August 2010 and April 2011, and will fly for Continental for ten years. An additional 15 delivery slots are reserved start in 2013.

The aircraft will likely fly from Newark, where the rest of the Dash 8-400s are based. The aircraft is able to fly from Newark's underutilized cross-runway and at lower altitudes than Continental's ERJs, increasing Continental's scheduling capabilities at its second largest hub.

Continental Tests Biofuel

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 10:02:00 -0800

Continental Airlines became the first U.S. airline (and the third worldwide after Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand) to test biofuel on one of its aircraft yesterday. A 737-800W flown by Rich Jankowski and Joe O'Neill flew using a 50/50 jatropha-jet fuel blend in one engine for one and a half hours over the Gulf of Mexico after departing from Houston Bush.

The test flight included an engine shutdown and restart. Interestingly, the engine using the blend burned 3% less fuel than the one running on jet fuel. The aircraft will return to regular service today.

Continental Accident in Denver

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 10:59:00 -0800

Continental flight 1404, a 737-500W (N18611) flying from Denver to Houston Bush, ran off the runway on takeoff last night. Full details are not yet available, but at least 38 people were injured. Initial reports indicate that the plane may have briefly taken off before returning to the ground and ending up in a ravine. The right side of the aircraft caught on fire and eventually melted the fuselage. The temperature was 10° F, but ice and snow have not been considered factors.

More photos are available here. This topic is being discussed on the Message Boards.

Continental Virtual Now Offers DC-9-30, 737-200

nospam@example.com (Nick Anderson) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:08:00 -0700

When Aaron told me that we could offer the DC-9-30 and 737-200 at Continental Virtual, I jumped at the chance! Two of my favorite airplanes in one of the classiest liveries around. Today we're introducing the DC-9-30 on Cleveland-Chicago Midway and the 737-200 on Newark-Chicago Midway.

Interestingly, while Continental had been flying the DC-9-10 since the 1960s, the -30s were all either inherited from Texas International or as part of New York Air melding back into Continental. The 737-200s were even more of a mixed bunch—all came from Frontier or People Express, both of which Continental also bought.

Continental retired both types in 1999 as part of its longterm fleet simplification plan. Acquisitions of Eastern, Frontier, New York Air, People Express, Texas International all within a span of five years had created a large but complicated fleet mix. Today Continental is the largest airline in the world to have a fleet that’s never flown for another airline (although United is just one aircraft short).

I hope you enjoy these new additions as much as I do!

Continental to Partner With United, Star Alliance

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:07:00 -0700

Continental Airlines today announced a major partnership with United Airlines that would include switching from SkyTeam to Star Alliance. During merger talks over the last few months, Continental identified numerous benefits from partnering with United. While the merger talks eventually fell through, Continental made it clear that it would reconsider its alliance future as a result of the Delta-Northwest merger.

Pending government approval of the Delta-Northwest merger and Continental's proposed antitrust alliance with Star Alliance partners, Continental would join Star Alliance roughly nine months after the Delta-Northwest merger is approved. Continental would participate in a transatlantic joint venture with Air Canada, Lufthansa and United, as well as similar pooling agreements in Asia and Latin America. There's been no word so far on whether Copa, which uses Continental's OnePass frequent-flier program, will also jump to Star.

This topic is being discussed on the Message Boards.

Continental to Cut Staff/Aircraft, New Agreement with ExpressJet

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 14:36:00 -0700

Continental Airlines announced earlier this week that it would speed up the retirement of its 737-300s and -500s and eliminate 3,000 positions, most through buyouts. 27 of the 102 aircraft will be removed in September after the peak summer season is over, with route cuts or reductions soon to be announced. The -300s will all be retired in 2009—this after deciding to equip many -300s and most -500s with winglets just a few years ago—although Continental will continue to take delivery of 737NGs

Continental's leadership continued to lead by example however, with Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner and President Jeff Smisek both declining their salaries for the rest of the year.

The same day, Continental announced that it reached a new capacity purchase agreement with former subsidiary ExpressJet Airlines, guaranteeing flying for 205 ERJs in the first year, and 190 aircraft for the remaining six years of the contract. ExpressJet will also return 39 ERJ-145s used in non-Continental flights to Continental. Finally, the ERJ-135ER/135LR will be removed from the Continental Express fleet. These changes are a simplification of the whole picture, but it may mean the end of ExpressJet's independently branded operations.

Continental Sells Last of Copa Stake

nospam@example.com (Aaron Robinson) — Wed, 28 May 2008 04:24:45 -0700

After ten years and a few days, Copa Airlines is once again an independently owned airline. Continental Airlines sold the last of its stake in Copa earlier this month. Continental had owned as much as 51% of Copa, but had been steadily reducing its ownership stake over the last two and a half years, both as part of Copa's public offering and to raise cash for its own operations.

The ownership stake led to a revitalization of the Copa brand and transformed the airline into one of the leaders in Latin American aviation. The two formed a comprehensive marketing alliance, which included Copa rebranding itself after Continental, codesharing with Continental, adopting the OnePass frequent flier program, and eventually joining the SkyTeam Alliance.