In the next year, Continental will expand its capacity by 40 percent by relocating many of its RJ operations at Newark along with a number of mainline aircraft. The expansion plan is part of a three-part program that runs through 2009.
The transfer of the RJs serving Newark comes at a time when the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as well as the FAA want to reduce RJ flights at the heavily-congested New York airports. However, Continental Spokesperson Mary Clark said the RJs were being replaced by the 16 70+seat Bombardier Q400s operated by Colgan and ordered by Pinnacle, Colgan’s parent company. The Q400s are able to add capacity at the beleaguered airport since they can use a cross-wing runway, something the RJs cannot do. Related Story
Continental will add 50 new flights – mostly on regional jets – as well as 20 new nonstop destinations. By early 2009, Continental plans to add more than a dozen additional flights, principally on mainline aircraft. The project at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is expected to create an estimated 700 Ohio jobs.
Continental’s new service to Quebec City, launched in June, is part of the three-year push. Later this month, twice daily flights to Oklahoma City and daily service to Ottawa will begin and by the end of the year its capacity at Cleveland will grow 10 percent.
The Cleveland focus results from a partnership among Continental, the City of Cleveland and the State of Ohio. The State offered an incentive package valued at more than $16 million. To date, Continental has been awarded a $900,000 Rapid Outreach Grant, a 70-percent, 10-year Ohio Job Creation Tax Credit, an Ohio Investment-in-Training program grant valued at up to $550,000, as well as employment pre-screening, testing and recruitment services through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
“Ohio’s world-class transportation infrastructure and airports are strengths for our communities that enhance our economic development goals, and this expansion will bolster Cleveland Hopkins and support business development in Northeast Ohio,” said Lt. Governor Lee Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. “Continental’s expanded air service at Cleveland Hopkins will benefit the entire state by improving access to Ohio and demonstrating to expanding businesses one more reason why more than 1,000 internationally owned establishments from 26 countries are located in Ohio.
The growth begins this year with capacity increases from Cleveland jumping 45 percent to San Francisco, 33 percent to Orlando, 32 percent to Seattle and 10 percent to Los Angeles. It also launches seasonal flights to San Diego in December. Continental will achieve the capacity increases through a combination of adding additional flight frequency and using larger aircraft on these routes.
Phase Two, scheduled for 2008, will include 12 new nonstop destinations as well as 27 new flights all served with RJs operated by Chautauqua and ExpressJet in addition to two Bombardier Q200s operated by Commutair, which is abandoning its New England markets in favor of Cleveland. Related Story
The new routes operated by ExpressJet, Chautauqua and Commutair include three times daily to Kalamazoo, Greenboro, N.C., and Omaha, Neb; twice daily service to Savannah, Birmingham, Green Bay, Tulsa, Little Rock, Memphis, Lansing and Des Moines; and once daily to Charleston, S.C. Continental will also launch its previously announced seasonal service to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG) in May 2008, using a 757.
Additional cities to be announced later will also be added during Phase Two. Following the completion of the second phase of the expansion in June 2008, Continental expects to be providing 300 daily departures from Cleveland, up from the 242 daily departures in June 2007. Total nonstop destinations served from Cleveland will grow from 80 today to 100.
Continental will announce Phase Three of its plan next year but it will focus on adding more nonstop destinations and increasing capacity to existing markets in time for the peak 2009 travel season.
Continental and its partners have deployed a diverse fleet of aircraft at the Cleveland hub. Flights are operated with Boeing 757s, 737s, Embraer and Canadair Regional Jets, Bombardier Q200s and Beechcraft 1900s. The Beechcraft 1900s will be entirely replaced by Q200s by April 2008.
The airport is also making improvements including an expanded security checkpoint area, a new meet-and-greet waiting area and additional ticket counters. A concession redevelopment program is underway to provide more retail and food and beverage options for travelers at prices that are comparable to non-airport locations. Continental and the airport are also reviewing different options to expand and/or relocate the current Federal Inspection Services (FIS) and customs hall. Already completed are a new runway and centralized de-icing pad, C Concourse ramp replacement, expansion of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) bag room with a new in-line baggage screening system, and restroom renovations.