News Release
Continental Airlines Completes Widebody Fleet Plan
HOUSTON, November 20, 1998 -- Continental Airlines, Inc. (NYSE: CAI.B and CAI.A) today announced an order for 10 firm Boeing 767-200ERs to complete its widebody fleet plan. The 767-200ERs will be configured with 176 seats (25 BusinessFirst and 151 coach), and will be used to serve international markets in Europe and South America.
In addition, the Boeing 767-200ER is a common fleet type with the Boeing 757 and will have the same new updated interior as the 767-400ER, which Continental previously ordered. Continental will start taking delivery of the 767-200ERs in 2000.
"The 767-200ER allows Continental to complete its fleet plan in 2005 with the same number of widebody seats as at the end of this year," said Gordon Bethune, Continental Airlines' chairman and chief executive officer. "Also, it provides a replacement for the previously announced retirement of the 747s and DC10s."
Because of the commonality of the 767 family and the common type rating to pilots of the 757, Continental will have the flexibility to better match passenger demand with the correct size aircraft on relatively short notice, permitting the airline to fly routes more profitably.
Widebody Fleet Plan
Year-end Count
| Aircraft | Seats | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 777 | 283 | 6 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| 767-400ER | 235 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 26 |
| 767-200ER | 176 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| DC10-30 | 242 | 31 | 31 | 26 | 0 |
| DC10-10 | 287 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 747 | 426 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Widebody Aircraft | 45 | 45 | 47 | 50 | |
| Total Widebody Seats | 11,913 | 11,464 | 11,722 | 11,832 | |
Continental maintains flexibility to grow its international capacity with 28 widebody options between 2000 and 2005. The company's agreements with Boeing provide the flexibility to respond to changing market conditions.
Continental is the fifth largest airline in the U.S., offering more than 2,000 departures daily to 128 domestic and 69 international destinations. Operating major hubs in Newark, Houston and Cleveland, Continental (http://www.flycontinental.com) is strategically positioned for transcontinental travel, and offers extensive service to Latin America and Europe via its Houston and Newark gateways.