Continental Airlines Announces Music Showcase Winners; Lee Ann Womack Picks 25 Winners to Have Their Performances Played Onboard Flights

HOUSTON, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today announced the grand prize winner of its Continental Music Showcase, a contest to recognize employees' musical talents. Receiving the top nod was Oliver Goodridge, spouse of Carol Goodridge, an Atlanta airport agent, for his vocal and instrumental performance of his original composition, "Boston." Showcase winners, whose entries were judged by Grammy and Country Music Award (CMA) winner, Lee Ann Womack, and a panel of co-workers, will have their performances played on one of the music channels onboard Continental flights.

Womack is a country music artist whose hit "I Hope You Dance" was named CMA's song of the year and crossed over to the pop and adult contemporary charts. Her most recent single "Finding My Way Back Home," released in August, will be the title track of her highly anticipated new album of the same name being released in February 2007 on Mercury Records. "Finding My Way Back Home" is the follow-up of her 2005 CMA Album of the Year, "Something Worth Leaving Behind."

Twenty-five winners were selected from more than 100 contest entries, with performances from musicians, singers and songwriters ranging from rap to classical. Eligible contestants included Continental employees, their dependent children, spouses, domestic partners and parents. In addition to having their performances featured onboard flights, the top five winners will receive round trip tickets on Continental, and grand prize winner Goodridge, will also receive a Casio electronic keyboard.

"The talents of Continental employees go beyond the work they perform while on the job for our airline," said Mike Bonds, Continental's senior vice president human resources and labor relations. "This is a unique opportunity for us to help rising stars be discovered while providing quality entertainment for our passengers."

Names of the other top five winners are Jerry York, Boeing 777 pilot based in Houston; Guy Greider, Boeing 737 pilot based in Guam; Lindsey Kelly, flight attendant based at Continental's New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport; and Vincent Longo, Jr., also a flight attendant based at Newark.

Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 3,200 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 151 domestic and 136 international destinations. More than 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines. With more than 43,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries approximately 61 million passengers per year. Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture.

In 2006, Continental Airlines won its sixth J.D. Power and Associates award since 1996. The carrier received the highest rank in customer satisfaction among network carriers in North America in the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Airline Satisfaction Index Survey(SM). For the third consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 Most Admired Global Airline on its 2006 list of Most Admired Global Companies. Continental was also named the No. 1 airline on the publication's 2006 America's Most Admired airline industry list. Additionally, Continental again won major awards at the OAG Airline of the Year Awards including "Best Airline Based in North America" for the third year in a row, and "Best Executive/Business Class" for the fourth consecutive year. For more company information, visit continental.com.