Company History

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Continental takes delivery of a new Boeing 737-900ER painted in Continental's historic "Blue Skyway" livery. Originally introduced in the 1940s, this paint scheme is being reintroduced on a single aircraft to celebrate Continental's 75th anniversary (July 15). (photo credit: Jeffrey DeVore)
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Continental Gold Carpet Service, introduced in the 1950s, included Onboard “Country Club” cuisine with a choice of four entrees. Today, Continental’s Congress of Chefs prepares BusinessFirst international gourmet menus. Continental is the only U.S. carrier providing complimentary meals at meal time on domestic routes.
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A Continental City Ticket Office advertises the Golden Jet, the Boeing 707 that joined CO’s fleet of Gold Carpet Service in the late 1950s. Los Angeles, Denver and Kansas City were three important cities on the route map. Today Continental and its regional partners offer service to more than 260 destinations around the world. Now, almost every customer has full ticketing capability and can take advantage of a host of other travel options at continental.com.
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A Continental ticket agent assists a customer at the Lubbock Airport ticket counter in 1968. Today, Airport Services agents step out from behind the counter and help customers with flight check-in and checked baggage using Continental’s airport kiosks.

In 2009, Continental Airlines celebrates 75 proud years of service. This video follows the company from its humble beginnings as a mail carrier to being honored as the World's Most Admired Airline by FORTUNE Magazine.