Continental Airlines Announces Nonstop Service Between Charleston, W.Va., And Houston HOUSTON, Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today announced that it will begin twice daily, nonstop service between Charleston, W.Va., and Houston Intercontinental Airport, effective Oct. 1, 2002. The new Continental Express flights aboard the fast, quiet 50-passenger ERJ-145 ExpressJet represent the only nonstop service between Houston and Charleston's Yeager Airport, which received funds through a new federal program designed to improve air service in smaller communities. "We look forward to introducing faster, more convenient service between West Virginia's capital city and Houston, our largest hub," said Continental Senior Vice President-Scheduling Glen Hauenstein. "We greatly appreciate the leadership of Senator Rockefeller and the support of all of those in the Charleston area who helped make this new service possible." From To Departs Arrives Charleston Houston 7:00 a.m. 8:32 a.m. 6:15 p.m. 7:47 p.m. Houston Charleston 1:15 p.m. 4:40 p.m. 6:40 p.m. 10:05 p.m. "I have worked for a long time to help smaller airports improve and promote their air service, so I was pleased to announce in June that Yeager Airport had won approval for a $500,000 grant from the Small Community Air Service Development program," said Senator Jay Rockefeller, who serves as Chairman of the Senate Aviation Subcommittee and authored the program to support regional airports. "Business leaders in the Kanawha Valley have told me how badly they need jet service to major industry hubs like Houston, so Continental's new nonstop service is great news for future economic development in West Virginia," Rockefeller added. "We are very excited about the non-stop jet service to Houston on Continental Express. This service has been our top priority for a number of years because of the needs of our business community," said Yeager Airport Director Rick Atkinson. "The Small Community Air Service development grant program that Senator Rockefeller authored provided us with the tools necessary to make this service a reality." Tickets for the new Charleston-Houston service will be available for purchase starting Aug. 3. Roger EWROPS