NEW YORK, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL), the world's sixth largest airline and OAG Airline of the Year 2004, today announced it will launch daily nonstop flights between New York and Bristol, England, beginning May 19, 2005.
The new service, the first scheduled nonstop transatlantic service between the United States and Southwest England, will link Bristol with the airline's New York-area hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and provide a new gateway to the region for North American visitors, creating additional tourism opportunities in the United Kingdom.
"We are delighted to bring our award-winning service to Bristol and proud to pioneer transatlantic service to Southwest England," said Jim Summerford, Continental's vice president - International. "The Bristol flights will create easy, convenient travel options for our customers in this vibrant region, as well as for visitors from the U.S. and beyond. They will also consolidate Continental's status as the leading airline on routes between the United States and the United Kingdom."
Continental's New York-Bristol flights will be operated with a 172-seat Boeing 757 aircraft, carrying 16 passengers in the BusinessFirst cabin and 156 in Economy. Flight 76 will depart Liberty International Airport daily at 7:30 p.m., arriving in Bristol at 7:30 a.m. the next day. Return service, flight 77 from Bristol, will depart at 9 a.m. and arrive at Liberty International at noon the same day. Flying times will be approximately seven hours eastbound and eight hours westbound.
The Bristol flights have been conveniently timed to connect at Liberty International with an extensive network of service throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America.
"Continental Airlines' decision to operate a nonstop service to New York from Bristol International Airport is fantastic news for both the airport and the South West region," said Andrew Skipp, managing director of Bristol International Airport. "The commencement of this transatlantic service will give a huge boost to the regional economy and will elevate Bristol and the South West of England onto the world stage.
"This is a momentous occasion, and will promote Bristol International Airport into the premier league of regional airports in the U.K.," Skipp said. "Bristol International is the only airport in the region to offer this economically important route and I am hugely proud of the role that Bristol International Airport continues to play as an 'ambassador' for the South West. I am confident that the demand from businesses, alongside inbound and outbound tourists, will make this service a resounding success."
Bristol is the largest city in the South West, which in turn has the second strongest economy in England outside London in terms of per-capita GDP. The city is home to the national headquarters of more than 160 companies and is one of the U.K.'s major centers for financial services, which employ some 40,000 people. Bristol is also a center for high-tech businesses and aerospace industries, and is one of Europe's leading locations for micro- electronics and silicon design, with more than 400 such companies.
With an 800-year history and a wealth of cultural attractions, Bristol welcomes more than nine million visitors every year and is the 7th most popular destination in the U.K. for overseas visitors. The airport is located within 15 miles of the world heritage city of Bath, and just a few hours away from the beautiful holiday regions of Devon and Cornwall.
Bristol International Airport is one of the fastest growing regional airports in the U.K. Its catchment area covers 10 counties in the South West of England and South Wales, with seven million people living within a two-hour drive time of the airport. Bristol International Airport serves more than 90 direct destinations and will carry 4.5 million passengers in 2005 -- double the number of passengers when the new $50 million (27m pounds Sterling) terminal opened in March 2000.
Continental is the only major airline to operate a hub in the New York City metropolitan area. Located just 16 miles from downtown Manhattan, Liberty International offers the fastest ground transportation service to many parts of New York City, including AirTrain service to New York Penn Station in midtown Manhattan. One-way fares between Liberty International and New York Penn Station are $11.55 on NJ Transit and $23 on Amtrak and journey time is less than 30 minutes.
Customers arriving at Liberty International on Continental flights from Bristol will be able to use exclusive immigration and customs facilities in Terminal C, Continental's Global Gateway, and connect quickly and easily with Continental's more than 400 daily services from Liberty International to more than 165 destinations throughout the Americas.
The new flights will feature Continental's renowned BusinessFirst service, which won the Best Executive/Business Class award in the OAG Airline of the Year Awards in both 2004 and 2003, based on voting by frequent flyers worldwide. BusinessFirst was also voted Best Transatlantic Business Class among U.S. airlines in Conde Nast Traveler magazine's Business Travel Awards 2003 -- for the 6th year running. This premium-class cabin features extra- wide electronic sleeper seats with 55-inch pitch, adjustable winged headrests and personal video screens.
Other BusinessFirst amenities include gourmet menus and award-winning wines and champagnes. Continental's complimentary door-to-door limousine transfer service for qualifying BusinessFirst customers features the most comprehensive geographic coverage in both the U.K. and the U.S. A specially selected and trained corps of more than 200 Concierges provides individualized pre-flight and post-flight services for BusinessFirst customers at 21 key international airports worldwide.
Continental Airlines has been serving the U.K. since 1985 and flies nonstop across the Atlantic to more airports in the U.K. and Ireland than any other airline. In the U.K., the airline operates nonstop flights linking New York/Newark with London/Gatwick and Birmingham (each twice daily), and Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh (each daily); linking Houston with London/Gatwick (twice daily); and linking Cleveland with London/Gatwick (daily, seasonal). In Ireland, the airline operates daily nonstop services linking New York/Newark with both Dublin and Shannon (triangular routing in winter). In addition, Continental and Virgin Atlantic Airways codeshare on Virgin Atlantic-operated flights between London/Heathrow and London/Gatwick and several U.S. cities.
Continental Airlines is the world's sixth-largest airline with more than 2,900 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. Continental serves 149 domestic and 119 international destinations -- more than any other airline in the world -- and nearly 200 additional points are served via codeshare partner airlines. With 42,000 employees, the airline has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and carries approximately 51 million passengers per year. For more company information, visit continental.com.
In Europe and the Middle East, Continental serves 19 cities in 12 countries, operating up to 203 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, Maersk Air, TAP Air Portugal and Virgin Atlantic Airways.
Have you registered at the Travel Agency Information Center yet? Visit www.continental.com/agency today to learn about online debit memos and more.