News Release
Continental Express Announces New Service Between Houston and Two Mexico Cities
HOUSTON, December 20, 1999 -- Continental Express, the regional airline subsidiary of Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL and CAL.A), today announced new nonstop service from its hub at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Puebla, Mexico, and Aguascalientes, Mexico, effective May, 2, 2000, and June 15, 2000, respectively. The new service is subject to government approval.
Already the leading U.S. carrier to Mexico, the addition of Aguascalientes and Puebla will bring the number of destinations served to 20 for Continental. Continental Express recently announced service from Houston to San Luis Potosi, effective March 2, 2000.
Puebla, the capital of the state of Puebla with a population of 1.2 million, is approximately 60 miles east of Mexico City. A strong commercial and manufacturing city, Puebla’s larger corporations include Nokia, Purina, Rockwell International Corp. and Volkswagen. In addition, Puebla is a popular tourist destination for its colonial architecture and historical churches.
Aguascalientes, located 250 miles northwest of Mexico City, is another large commercial center specializing in exportation of durable goods. Due to high foreign investment and low unemployment, Aguascalientes enjoys a strong and growing economy.
"The addition of these two very important markets in Mexico once again demonstrates Continental’s commitment to Mexico and the Latin American marketplace," said Continental Express President Jim Ream.
Continental Express will operate the 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145 regional jet, known as the ExpressJet, on the daily, nonstop flights.
Flight Schedules:
| Puebla | |||
| Depart Puebla | 7:55 a.m. | Arrive Houston | 9:45 a.m. |
| Depart Houston | 8:20 p.m. | Arrive Puebla | 10:45 p.m. |
| Aguascalientes | |||
| Depart Aguascalientes | 7:50 a.m. | Arrive Houston | 9:40 a.m. |
| Depart Houston | 8:20 p.m. | Arrive Aguascalientes | 10:25 p.m. |
The Embraer ERJ-145 offers amenities such as jet-bridge loading, a fully equipped galley, spacious lavatory, leather-covered seats and carry-on luggage storage.
Continental, the second largest U.S. carrier to Latin America and the Caribbean in number of passengers and destinations, offers more than 250 weekly flights to Mexico.
Continental Express serves more than six million customers annually. As a regional air carrier to Continental Airlines, Express offers more than 920 daily departures to more than 100 cities from its hubs in Cleveland, Houston and New York. 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.