News Release
Continental Airlines Announces Code-Share Alliance with Air China
HOUSTON, May 12, 1998 -- Continental Airlines and Air China today announced an alliance agreement to jointly market flights between the U.S. and China. Continental and Air China, the largest airline in China, will code-share on specific flights, participate in each other's frequent flyer mileage programs, offer through check-in from origin to destination, and provide reciprocal access to each carrier's executive airport lounges.
Once government authorization is obtained, Air China will place its code on Continental flights to major cities in the U.S., and Continental expects to place its code on Air China flights.
"Air travel continues to grow dramatically between China and the U.S.," said Gordon Bethune, chairman and CEO of Continental Airlines. "By linking the premier carrier in China with Continental, along with our other U.S. alliance partners, we will offer the most attractive service to compete in this booming market."
"This alliance with Air China is a tremendous step forward for Continental's global airline expansion strategy and adds even greater strength to our Asian presence," said Greg Brenneman, president and COO of Continental Airlines.
"We are pleased to be able to commence an alliance with Continental Airlines - the largest carrier in New York City and the second largest U.S. carrier to Latin America," said Yin Wenlong, president of Air China.
The code share will begin as early as fall, 1998. Air China has also established cooperative marketing alliances with Continental's major U.S. alliance partners, Northwest Airlines and America West Airlines. Air China was originally CAAA (China Civil Aviation Administration) which began service in 1955. The company was renamed Air China in 1988 and is state owned. It is based in Beijing and has recorded 43 years of safe and dependable service. Air China received the "National Safe Flight Pace Setter" award from the China State Council and China Civil Aviation Administration.
Continental is the fifth largest airline in the U.S., offering more than 2,000 departures daily to 122 domestic and 70 international destinations. Operating major hubs in Newark, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, Continental is strategically positioned for transcontinental travel, and offers extensive service to Latin America and Europe via its Houston and Newark gateways. Continental has entered into a strategic global alliance with Northwest Airlines, subject to government approval, that will result in interconnection of the two airlines' route systems, code-sharing arrangements, frequent flier reciprocity, cooperation between Continental and Northwest's trans-Atlantic partner KLM, and other cooperative activities.
Recently, Continental became the only airline in history to earn the Frequent Flyer magazine/J.D. Power and Associates award two years in a row for best customer satisfaction on long-haul flights. The Continental OnePass frequent flyer program was named 1997 Program of the Year and Best Elite-Level Program, as well as having Best Overall Customer Service, Best Program Newsletter and Best Website in InsideFlyer's annual Freddie Awards. In addition, Continental was named 1996 "Airline of the Year" by Air Transport World and was rated as having the best business class product among U.S. carriers by both Entrepreneur and Smart Money magazines.