CONTINENTAL AIRLINES ANNOUNCES MAJOR EXPANSION =0AAT CLEVELAND HOPKINS INTE=
RNATIONAL AIRPORT=0A =0ACLEVELAND, Sept.14, 2007 =96 Continental Airlines (=
NYSE: CAL), along with Mayor Frank G. Jackson and Governor Ted Strickland, =
announced a plan by Continental to grow its capacity at Cleveland Hopkins I=
nternational Airport (CLE) by 40 percent over a two-year period. Continent=
al will initially operate 50 new flights, principally on regional jets, and=
add 20 new nonstop destinations by next summer. By early 2009, Continenta=
l plans to add more than a dozen additional flights, principally on mainlin=
e aircraft, further strengthening Cleveland=92s role in Continental=92s glo=
bal route network. The project is expected to create an estimated 700 Ohio=
jobs.=0A Many of the regional jet aircraft used for the additio=
nal service will be reallocated from Newark. Beginning in 2009, a number of=
additional mainline aircraft will also be allocated to support the growth.=
=0A Today=92s announcement is the result of a partnership among=
Continental, the City of Cleveland and the State of Ohio. =0A =
=93This growth strengthens Cleveland and gives customers more options when =
connecting within the Continental system,=94 said Larry Kellner, Continenta=
l chairman and chief executive officer. =93Mayor Jackson=92s partnership, s=
upport for air service development and his strong management team at Hopkin=
s were crucial to our decision. We=92re also grateful for the leadership a=
nd support of Governor Strickland, Lt. Governor Fisher and the State of Ohi=
o, the support of Cleveland City Council and the Ohio Congressional delegat=
ion. All this support has helped make it possible for us to grow our prese=
nce here.=94 =0A =93Continental Airlines is making a significant=
investment in the City of Cleveland and Cleveland Hopkins International Ai=
rport. This strategic investment is designed to maximize Cleveland=92s asse=
ts, create a positive environment for business and serve as a vehicle for t=
ourism to the entire Cleveland Plus region,=94 said Mayor Jackson. =93I=92=
d like to thank Mr. Kellner, Mr. Smisek, Governor Strickland, Lt. Governor =
Fisher, Director Smith and all who worked with me and my staff to make this=
vision for Cleveland a reality.=94 =0A =93The State of Ohio is =
proud to partner in this effort to support this major expansion in the grea=
t City of Cleveland,=94 said Governor Strickland. =0A The State=
offered an incentive package valued at more than $16 million; to date, Con=
tinental 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, testin=
g and recruitment services through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Se=
rvices.=0A =93Ohio=92s world-class transportation infrastructure=
and airports are strengths for our communities that enhance our economic d=
evelopment goals, and this expansion will bolster Cleveland Hopkins and sup=
port business development in Northeast Ohio,=94 said Lt. Governor Lee Fishe=
r, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. =93C=
ontinental=92s expanded air service at Cleveland Hopkins will benefit the e=
ntire state by improving access to Ohio and demonstrating to expanding busi=
nesses one more reason why more than 1,000 internationally owned establishm=
ents from 26 countries are located in Ohio.=94=0AGrowth to Take Place in Th=
ree Phases During 2007 to 2009: Phase One=0A Phase one was launc=
hed with a significant increase in capacity in 2007 in many mainline market=
s from Cleveland including:=0A Destinati=
on % capacity increase=0A =
San Francisco =
45%=0A Orlando =
33%=0A Seattl=
e 32%=0A =
Los Angeles 10%=
=0A Seasonal flights to San Diego also began in late December 20=
06.=0A The 2007 capacity increase has been achieved through a co=
mbination of adding additional flight frequency and using larger aircraft o=
n these routes.=0A New service to Quebec City began in June of 2=
007. =0A Later this month, twice daily flights to Oklahoma City=
and daily service to Ottawa will begin. =0A As a result of the=
growth in 2007, Continental=92s operation in Cleveland will be 10 percent =
larger in 2007 than in 2006.=0APhase Two: 12 New Nonstop Destinations=0A =
In early 2008, Continental will add 27 new flights to 12 new nonst=
op destinations including: New D=
estination Frequency Effective Dat=
e=0A Greensboro, N.C. (GSO) Three times dail=
y March 3, 2008=0A Omaha, Neb. (OMA) =
Three times daily March 3, 2008=0A =
Savannah, Ga. (SAV) Twice daily March 3, =
2008=0A Birmingham, Ala. (BHM) Twice daily =
April 6, 2008=0A Charleston, S.C. =
(CHS) Once daily April 6, 2008=0A =
Green Bay, Wis. (GRB) Twice daily =
April 6, 2008=0A Tulsa, Okla. (TUL) =
Twice daily April 6, 2008=0A Lit=
tle Rock, Ark. (LIT) Twice daily May 4, 2008=
=0A Memphis, Tenn. (MEM) Twice daily =
May 4, 2008=0A Lansing, Mich. (LAN) =
Three times daily May 4, 2008=0A =
Des Moines, Iowa (DSM) Twice daily June 12, 2008=
=0A Kalamazoo, Mich. (AZO) Three times daily=
June 12, 2008=0A (Weekend schedules may v=
ary).=0A In addition, previously announced seasonal service to P=
aris Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG) will begin May 22, 2008. The flight is=
planned to depart Cleveland at 7:05 p.m. and arrive in Paris at 9:05 a.m. =
the following day. The return flight will depart Paris at 10:50 a.m. on Ma=
y 23, 2008, and arrive in Cleveland at 2:00 p.m. the same day. Both flight=
s are served with a Boeing 757 aircraft featuring Continental=92s award-win=
ning BusinessFirst cabin. Paris is the second European destination served =
by Continental from Cleveland, following London Gatwick airport (LGW).=0A =
Customers may go online today at continental.com to begin booking=
and ticketing the new flights. In addition, customers have the option of =
making reservations by calling Continental at 1-800-523-FARE, or contacting=
their local travel agent. Introductory fares will be offered in the new m=
arkets. (See attached sheet).=0A Additional cities to be announ=
ced later will also be added during Phase Two.=0A Following the =
completion of the second phase of the expansion in June 2008, Continental e=
xpects to be providing 300 daily departures from Cleveland, up from the 242=
daily departures in =0AJune 2007. Total nonstop destinations served from C=
leveland will grow from 80 today to 100. =0APhase Three=0A Phas=
e Three will be announced in 2008 and will add more nonstop destinations an=
d a further increase in seats to existing Continental markets. The additio=
nal capacity will be in place for the peak summer 2009 travel period. =0ATh=
e Fleet=0A Continental and its partners have deployed a diverse =
fleet of aircraft at the Cleveland hub. Flights are operated with Boeing 7=
57s, 737s, Embraer and Canadair Regional Jets, Bombardier Q200s and Beechcr=
aft 1900s. The Beechcraft 1900s will be entirely replaced by Q200s by Apri=
l 2008. The 37-seat Q200s are quiet, next-generation aircraft featuring st=
ate-of-the-art features for passenger comfort. The new routes will be flow=
n by a combination of aircraft types operated by Continental and its region=
al airline partners.=0AMore Than 700 New Jobs=0A In order to sup=
port the expanded schedule at the Cleveland hub, Continental expects that i=
t and its regional airline partners will hire more than 700 new employees o=
ver the next 18 months. Positions will include airport sales agents and cu=
stomer service agents. In addition, Continental is also hiring pilots and =
flight attendants. Continental career opportunities are posted at continen=
tal.com. =0AAirport Improvements Support Expansion=0A To suppor=
t the growth of Cleveland, future facility plans call for an expanded secur=
ity checkpoint area, a new meet-and-greet waiting area and additional ticke=
t counters. A concession redevelopment program is underway to provide more=
retail and food and beverage options for travelers at Cleveland Hopkins - =
- 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.=0A =
Already completed are a new runway and centralized de-icing pad, C Conco=
urse ramp replacement, expansion of the Transportation Security Administrat=
ion (TSA) bag room with a new in-line baggage screening system, and restroo=
m renovations. =0AContinental Airlines is the world=92s fifth largest air=
line. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Conne=
ction, has more than 3,100 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe=
and Asia, serving 144 domestic and 138 international destinations. More th=
an 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines. With mo=
re than 45,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, C=
leveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries approxima=
tely 67 million passengers per year. Continental consistently earns awards =
and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture.=0AFo=
r the fourth consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1=
World=92s Most Admired Airline on its 2007 list of World=92s Most Admired =
Companies. Continental was also named the No. 1 airline on the publication=
=92s 2007 America=92s Most Admired airline industry list. Additional=
ly, Continental again won major awards at the OAG Airline of the Year Award=
s including =93Best Airline Based in North America=94 for the fourth year i=
n a row, and =93Best Executive/Business Class=94 for the fifth consecutive =
year. For more company information, visit continental.com. =0A###=0A =0A =
=0A =0ACLEVELAND EXPANSION=0APROMOTIONAL FARES=0A =0A =0ACLEVELAND - PARIS=
=0AContinental will offer a low introductory round-trip coach-class fare of=
$898 midweek/$958 weekend from Cleveland nonstop to Paris. Tickets must be=
purchased by Sept. 28, 2007. The fare is valid for travel from the day th=
e service starts until Aug. 28, 2008. A Saturday night stay is required an=
d there is a 30-day maximum stay. Tickets are non-refundable and a $200 ch=
ange fee applies. The sale fare does not include a $2.50 September 11 secu=
rity fee (each way), passenger facility charges up to $18 (round trip), and=
international taxes and fees of $94. Fares subject to change without noti=
ce, seats are limited and other restrictions apply.=0A =0A =0ACLEVELAND - D=
OMESTIC=0AContinental will offer a low introductory nonstop fare of $198 ro=
und trip from Cleveland to the following new markets:=0A Gre=
ensboro, N.C.=0A Omaha, Neb.=0A Savannah, Ga.=
=0A Birmingham, Ala.=0A Charleston, S.C.=0A =
Green Bay, Wis.=0A Tulsa, Okla.=0A =
Little Rock, Ark.=0A Memphis, Tenn.=0A La=
nsing, Mich.=0A Des Moines, Iowa=0A Kalamazoo=
, Mich.=0A =0ATickets must be purchased by Sept. 28, 2007. The fare is val=
id for travel from the day the service starts until Aug. 28, 2008. A three=
-night or Friday night stay is required. Tickets are non-refundable and a =
$100 change fee applies. The sale fare does not include a $3.40 per segmen=
t fee (each way), a $2.50 per segment September 11 security fee (each way),=
and passenger facility charges up to $18 (round trip). Fares subject to =
change without notice, seats are limited and other restrictions apply.
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