Continental Airlines Announces Daily Non-Stop Service Between New York and Athens

NEW YORK, Jan. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL), the world's fifth largest airline, today announced it will launch daily nonstop flights between New York/Newark and Athens effective June 7, 2007 (eastbound), subject to government approval.

The new service will provide a link to the capital of Greece from not only New York but also from more than 230 other cities throughout North, Central and South America, the Caribbean and beyond.

"We look forward to offering travelers something none of our competitors can match -- award-winning, year-round service from New York's only hub airport to Greece, with quick and easy same-airline, same-terminal connections from cities throughout the Americas," said Jim Compton, Continental's Executive Vice President - Marketing.

Athens, the birthplace of democracy and cradle of Western civilization, is today a bustling metropolis with a population of 3.7 million and is the center of Greece's economic, financial, industrial, cultural and political life. The city is home to a wealth of ancient monuments and artworks, including the world-famous Parthenon on the Acropolis, and is the 6th most visited capital in Europe.

Over the past decade, Athens' infrastructure has been radically improved, in part due to the city's successful bid to stage the 2004 Olympic Games. Greece is the leading economy in southeast Europe and one of the fastest- growing economies in the European Union. Tourism accounts for 10 percent of GDP.

Continental's New York/Newark-Athens flights will be operated with 174- seat Boeing 767-200ER aircraft, carrying 25 passengers in the BusinessFirst cabin and 149 in Economy.

Flight CO104, will depart New York/Newark daily at 5:30 p.m., arriving at Athens at 10:20 a.m. the next day. The return flight, CO105, will depart Athens daily at 12:20 p.m., arriving at New York/Newark at 4:30 p.m. the same day. Flying times will be approximately 9 hours 50 minutes eastbound and 11 hours 10 minutes westbound. The frequency of the service will be reduced to five flights weekly during September/October and April/May and to three flights weekly from November-March due to the traditional seasonal reduction in demand.

The new flights will feature Continental's renowned BusinessFirst service, which has won the Best Executive/Business Class award in the OAG Airline of the Year Awards in each of the past four years (2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003), based on voting by frequent flyers worldwide. BusinessFirst was also voted Best Transatlantic Business Class among U.S. airlines in Conde Nast Traveler magazine's Business Travel Awards 2006 - for the 9th year running.

This premium-class cabin features extra-wide electronic sleeper seats with 55-inch pitch, adjustable winged headrests and personal video screens. Other BusinessFirst amenities include gourmet menus and award-winning wines and champagnes. A specially selected and trained corps of Concierges provides individualized pre-flight and post-flight services for BusinessFirst customers at 26 key international airports worldwide.

Athens will be the 29th city, and Greece will be the 16th country, in Continental's trans-Atlantic route network.

Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 3,100 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 150 U.S. and 136 international destinations. More than 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines. With more than 44,000 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.

Across the Atlantic, Continental operates up to 294 departures weekly from 28 cities in 15 countries to its U.S. gateway hubs at New York/Newark, Houston and Cleveland, with onward connections to more than 230 cities throughout North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. Continental's alliance carriers in Europe, the Middle East and India include - in addition to SkyTeam airlines - Air Europa, Emirates and Virgin Atlantic Airways.