Continental Airlines Applies to Fly Nonstop Between New York/Newark and Shanghai, China in Spring 2009

HOUSTON, July 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today submitted its application to the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide the first nonstop U.S. carrier service between the financial and commercial centers of the U.S. and China, New York/Newark and Shanghai. Continental will also provide through flight service between Cleveland and Shanghai.

Continental seeks the route award as part of a new landmark aviation agreement officially signed July 9, 2007, which provides extensive additional air service opportunities between the U.S. and China over the next six years.

"Continental again congratulates the DOT on securing the multiple rights for additional competitive U.S. airline service to China which Continental intends to utilize in 2009, by offering daily nonstop service in the most significant U.S.-China market that lacks daily nonstop U.S. carrier service," said Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner.

The proposed route from Continental's New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport will provide additional customer choices for air service to Shanghai from the New York/New Jersey region and the entire northeastern region of the U.S. The new route will serve the large Asian and Chinese American population residing in the New York City/Newark area and the largest population base in the U.S. in which passengers have been forced to use connecting flights or less-than-daily foreign carrier service for their travel needs between the U.S. financial capital and the rapidly expanding Chinese financial capital of Shanghai. Continental's New York/Newark-Shanghai service, with through-flight service between Cleveland and Shanghai, will also provide convenient connecting service to destinations through its New York hub at Newark Liberty.

"Continental is pleased to continue working with the federal, state and locally elected officials from our Cleveland and northern Ohio hub market to bring additional international air service opportunities to the region," said Kellner. "Businesses in northern Ohio, just like those in New York and New Jersey that compete in today's global marketplace, stand to gain from the benefits that international air service provides," Kellner added.

Ohio is home to 60 Fortune 1000 companies and the Cleveland area is home to vital Fortune 100 companies including Goodyear Tire and Rubber, International Steel Group and Sherwin Williams.

Continental plans to operate the nonstop flight daily with a Boeing 777 aircraft with 285 seats on the following tentative schedule:

    Flight Number:         Departs:                      Arrives:
     CO 87            New York/Newark: 11:50 am  Shanghai: 2:05 pm next day
     CO 86            Shanghai: 4:05 pm          New York/Newark: 6:30 pm

Continental's Cleveland-New York/Newark-Shanghai market is well supported among the airline's communities, business partners and employees. Continental thanks its many early supporters including:

     Newark Regional Business Partnership
     The entire New Jersey Congressional Delegation
     10 Ohio Congressional Members
     New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine
     Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
     Ohio Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher
     Texas Governor Rick Perry
     Newark Mayor Cory Booker
     Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage
     Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson
     President of the New Jersey Senate Richard Codey
     Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly Joseph Roberts
     New Jersey Legislative Leadership
     President of the Ohio Senate Bill Harris
     Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives Jon Husted
     Ohio Legislative Leadership
     Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Tom Craddick
     Cleveland Council President Martin Sweeney
     Cleveland City Councilman Kevin Kelley
     Cleveland City Council Aviation Committee
     New Jersey Alliance for Action
     New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce
     New Jersey Business & Industry Association
     Commerce & Industry Association of New Jersey
     Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce
     Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey
     Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce
     Ohio Chamber of Commerce
     Greater Cleveland Partnership

Continental has also sent to the DOT over 13,000 employee letters supporting Continental's request for Shanghai service.

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 144 domestic and 138 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 67 million passengers per year. Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture. For more company information, visit continental.com.