Continental Airlines Signs Codeshare Agreement With Maersk Air of DenmarkHOUSTON, Nov 06, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via Comtex/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) announced today that it signed a codeshare agreement with Maersk Air of Denmark, which will enable Continental customers to make quicker and easier connections to and from the Danish cities of Copenhagen and Billund, via London/Gatwick and Amsterdam. A marketing agreement between the two airlines also provides for OnePass frequent flyer program benefits.
For travel effective February 2004, subject to government approval, Continental will place its code (CO*) on Maersk Air's flights between both Copenhagen and Billund and London/Gatwick and on its flights between Billund and Amsterdam, which connect with Continental's flights between London/Gatwick and Amsterdam and the airline's hubs at New York/Newark, Houston and Cleveland.
Continental customers will need to check in only once for these flights, receiving seat assignments and boarding passes through to their final destination, as well as seamless luggage transfers.
Members of Continental's frequent flyer program, OnePass, will be able to earn and redeem miles on Continental codeshare flights operated by Maersk Air.
The codeshare agreement will improve connections to all parts of Denmark for Continental customers -- particularly those traveling to and from New York and Houston and points beyond -- and will also complement Continental's European route network.
"Continental is very enthusiastic about our new cooperation with Maersk," said David Grizzle, Continental's Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. "Historically, Continental has not served the Billund region of Denmark and we look forward to working with Maersk to expand our Danish service and improve our business mix. Continental views this alliance as an initial step to greater cooperation in Denmark and in particular with the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group."
Maersk Air, part of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, is Denmark's leading privately-owned airline and is engaged in international scheduled services, charter flights, leasing of aircraft and freight agency activities. The airline commenced operation in 1970 and from a modest beginning with a fleet of three small turbo propeller planes, Maersk Air today has 44 aircraft and employs 1,300 dedicated staff in Denmark and abroad.
Continental Airlines is the world's seventh-largest airline and has more than 2,200 daily departures. With 127 domestic and 96 international destinations, Continental has the broadest global route network of any U.S. airline, including extensive service throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and carries approximately 41 million passengers per year on the newest jet fleet among major U.S. airlines. With 42,000 mainline employees, Continental is one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America. In 2003, Fortune ranked Continental highest among major U.S. carriers in the quality of its service and products, and No. 2 on its list of Most Admired Global Airlines. For more company information, visit continental.com.
In Europe and the Middle East, Continental serves 17 cities in 11 countries, operating up to 168 departures weekly to its U.S. gateway hubs at New York/Newark, Houston and Cleveland, with onward connections to cities throughout North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. Continental's alliance carriers in Europe and the Middle East include Air Europa, Emirates, Flybe. (British European), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, TAP Air Portugal and Virgin Atlantic Airways.
SOURCE Continental Airlines
