News Release
Continental Airlines Named No. 2 Global Airline in Fortune Magazine Survey
HOUSTON, October 14, 1999 -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL and CAL.A) today announced it has been ranked as the No. 2 most admired global airline by Fortune magazine in the publication's "World's Most Admired Companies" list, published in the Oct. 11 issue.
Sixteen carriers were ranked in the Airlines Industry list.
1. Southwest Airlines
2.Continental Airlines
3. British Airways
4. American Airlines
5. Swissair
6. United
7. Lufthansa
8. KLM
9. Delta Air Lines
10. Qantas Airways
11. US Airways
12. Northwest Airlines
13. Air France
14. Japan Airlines
15. All Nippon Airways
16. Iberia
Airlines were rated according to nine criteria: overall management quality, product or service quality, innovativeness, acquiring and keeping talent, value as a long-term investment, financial strength, commitment to community and the environment, global business acumen and use of corporate assets.
"This is an amazing accolade for our employees and customers. It is an honor to be recognized as the second best global airline and best international carrier in the world," said Continental Airlines Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Gordon Bethune. "I'm proud of all of the employees, and this shows that everyone continues to do an excellent job."
Continental Airlines is the fifth largest airline in the U.S., offering more than 2,100 departures daily to 129 domestic and 85 international destinations. Operating major hubs in Newark, Houston and Cleveland, Continental (http://www.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 (Condé Nast Traveler, OAG Official Airline Guides, 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).