Continental Airlines announced that it has submitted information to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to support its application…
Continental Airlines announced that it has submitted information to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to support its application to offer daily New York/Newark-Houston-Buenos Aires service. Within the 11 working days Continental was given to prepare the information, nearly 10,000 of the company`s employees — almost one quarter of the carrier`s worldwide work force — sent letters supporting Continental for the route. Hundreds of letters supporting Continental were also sent from travel agencies, corporate partners, and federal, state and local government representatives.
These letters, combined with Continental`s DOT filing, underscore the many benefits of Continental`s New York-Houston-Buenos Aires flights. As a new entrant, Continental is the only applicant in the route case to open an entirely new network for U.S.-Argentina service, and two new global gateways that will provide significant consumer benefits and competition to existing services offered by United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Aerolineas Argentinas.
Delta, the only other applicant in the proceeding, proposes to offer duplicative service between New York/JFK and Buenos Aires, which is currently offered by both American and Aerolineas Argentinas. In addition, Delta already serves Buenos Aires from New York via connections at its Atlanta hub, where the carrier offers nonstop Atlanta-Buenos Aires service.
Continental`s Houston hub will provide the only significant competition for American`s Dallas/Ft. Worth-Buenos Aires service and first time competition from a gateway west of the Mississippi River, another significant benefit for consumers.
Continental applied for permission to launch service to Buenos Aires in time for the 2005/2006 winter travel season. The service would utilize Boeing 767-200ER aircraft and fill a critical gap in Continental`s Latin American route network, becoming the 57th Latin American/Caribbean destination served from Houston and the 38th such destination served from New York/Newark.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
