News Release
Continental Airlines Sweeps Condé Nast Traveler 2001 Business Traveler Awards
HOUSTON, October 29, 2001 -- Continental Airlines bested the major U.S. carriers in key measures of customer comfort and value on long-haul flights, according to Condé Nast Traveler magazine's fourth annual survey of business travelers. Continental's premium BusinessFirst service was rated highest among all U.S. carriers for transatlantic and transpacific flights. On domestic trips, Continental's first class service ranked higher than the top-10 major carriers, and was rated the greatest "value for cost" among the majors. "This is a testament to the hard work of Continental's employees and their dedication to offering customers exactly what they want on a consistent basis," said Continental Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gordon Bethune. The complete 2001 Business Traveler Awards are published in the October 2001 edition of Condé Nast Traveler.
BusinessFirst, offering first class amenities at a business class price, is standard on Continental's 777 and 767 widebody aircraft and many 757 aircraft. Passenger amenities include custom-crafted sleeper seats with a full 55 inches of pitch, adjustable headrest, electronic legrest, footrest and lumbar support; delicious menu selections featuring premium wines and champagne; personal entertainment system built into the armrest console; and more.
Continental Airlines is the fifth largest airline in the U.S., offering more than 1,900 departures daily to 122 domestic and 89 international destinations. Operating hubs in Newark, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, Continental serves more international cities than any other U.S. carrier, including extensive service throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit continental.com.
Continental was named the 2001 Airline of the Year by Air Transport World, as well as the 1996 Airline of the Year, making it the only carrier to receive this honor twice in five years. Continental is in the top quarter of Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work for in America," and is ranked the nation's No. 1 airline in customer satisfaction for long and short-haul flights by Frequent Flyer Magazine and J.D. Power and Associates. Continental has received numerous awards for its BusinessFirst premium cabin (Condé Nast Traveler, OAG, Entrepreneur and SmartMoney magazines), OnePass frequent flyer program (InsideFlyer's Freddie Awards) and overall operations and management (Fortune magazine).