Agency News Alert

BAKERSFIELD, Calif., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) and Bakersfield's Meadows Field Airport today announced the airline will inaugurate service at Bakersfield April 4, 2004, with twice-daily nonstop flights linking the airport with Continental's hub at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.

Flights are timed to offer convenient connections in Houston to dozens of destinations in the United States, Canada, Central and South America, Europe and the Caribbean. The airline will operate the 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft on each flight.

                IAH-BFL                      BFL-IAH
9:40-11:45 a.m.             7 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
5:40-7:45 p.m.              12:25-5:55 p.m.

"Continental's new service at Bakersfield will make the region an even more attractive place to do business, and will offer those who live and work in Bakersfield even more opportunities to reach the world," said Bob Cortelyou, Continental's staff vice president of scheduling.

Pete Parra, chairman of the Kern County Board of Supervisors, said he is pleased with the opportunities Continental service represents for the county.

"Many companies look at available air service when making location decisions. Better air service will create more job opportunities," Parra said.

Kern County Airports Director Ray Bishop said the new service comes after nearly 18 months of discussions between Meadows Field and Continental.

"Soliciting a new airline is a difficult process, and the competition for service from other communities is intense," Bishop said. "Ultimately, we were successful because of the strong support and commitment we received from the community and our local oil industry. This new service will result in better fares and more choices for air travel."

Houston, the energy capital of the United States, is home to leading energy companies including Halliburton Energy Services and Baker Hughes, both of which have operations in California.

Continental Airlines is the world's seventh-largest airline with more than 2,200 daily departures to 127 domestic and 96 international destinations throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. With 42,000 mainline employees, the airline has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and carries approximately 41 million passengers per year. Fortune ranks Continental one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America, 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 .