News Release
Continental Express Introduces New Aircraft and New Flight Between Knoxville and Cleveland
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., September 8, 1999 -- Continental Express, the regional airline subsidiary of Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL and CAL.A), will begin new nonstop service from Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport tomorrow using the brand new Embraer ERJ-135 regional jet.
This new route is one of the first in the United States to have service provided by the 37-seat ERJ-135 which offers all the comfort and amenities of a jet aircraft. Designed specifically with the business traveler in mind, the Embraer ERJ-135 offers jet-bridge loading, a fully equipped galley, spacious lavatory, leather-covered seats and carry-on luggage storage. The ERJ-135 cruises at speeds similar to other large jet aircraft and at altitudes up to 37,000 feet, ensuring passengers a fast, smooth ride above the weather.
The new service to Cleveland provides passengers with convenient connections to cities in the Midwest and West.
Using the new 37-seat Embraer ERJ-135 regional jet, Continental Express now offers one daily nonstop between its hub in Cleveland and Knoxville. The flight from Knoxville departs at 9:10 a.m. and arrives in Cleveland at 10:40 a.m. The flight from Cleveland departs at 7:25 p.m. and arrives in Knoxville at 9:00 p.m.
Continental Express already serves Knoxville from its hub in Houston with two daily flights.
Continental Express recently chose Knoxville as the location for its new regional jet maintenance facility, which will include a 65,000-square-foot hangar. The new facility will handle heavy maintenance for the regional jets, accommodating four regional jets as well as support office and shop space. Currently, Continental Express is occupying a temporary facility to handle the overnight maintenance work for its fleet of Embraer ERJ-145 and ERJ-135 regional jets.
Continental Express serves more than 6 million customers annually. As a regional air carrier to Continental Airlines, Express offers more than 900 daily departures to more than 90 cities from its hubs in Cleveland, Houston and Newark. Continental Express offers advance seat assignments and OnePass frequent flyer miles which can be redeemed anywhere in the world Continental and its partner airlines fly.