News Release
Continental Airlines Retires Last Stage II Aircraft in Cleveland
HOUSTON, Texas, September 15, 1999 -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL and CAL.A) today announced that it has eliminated all older, noisier Stage II aircraft at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport as it converts to newer Stage III aircraft exclusively. Continental beats by more than three months the federally mandated Dec. 31, 1999 deadline for phasing out Stage II aircraft.
"Retiring all our Stage II 727s and DC9s at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, ahead of schedule, just proves that Continental is a good corporate citizen, helping to reduce noise pollution in and around the Cleveland and Northeast Ohio region," said Kathleen Keefe, Continental’s senior director of Cleveland.
New generation aircraft, like the Boeing 737-700 and 737-800, will be replacing the 727s and DC9s in the airline’s fleet systemwide. These new planes are more fuel efficient and quieter than their predecessors.
In 1990, the Federal Government mandated that the U.S. airline industry retire or retrofit its older, noisier Stage II aircraft by December 31, 1999. There is an estimated 10 to 20 decibel reduction with the use of the new Stage III aircraft.
Continental Airlines is the fifth largest airline in the U.S., offering more than 2,200 departures daily to 130 domestic and 85 international destinations. Operating major hubs in Newark, Houston and Cleveland, Continental (http://continental.com) has extensive service throughout the Americas, and to Europe and Asia. Continental recently initiated a strategic global alliance with Northwest Airlines. Continental is in the top half of Fortune magazine’s "100 Best Companies to Work for in America," and has won first or second place Frequent Flyer Magazine and J.D. Power awards for four consecutive years. Continental has received numerous awards for its BusinessFirst premium cabin (Conde Nast Traveler, OAG Official Airline Guide, Entrepreneur and Smart Money magazines), OnePass frequent flyer program (InsideFlyer’s Freddie Awards) and overall operations and management (Air Transport World’s 1997 Airline of the Year).