Continental Airlines receives Tentative Approval to operate Flights to China

Continental Airlines has received tentative approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to initiate service to Beijing in the People’s Republic of China from its hub at New York/Newark Liberty International Airport.

A date for the daily nonstop flight to Beijing will be announced once final approval is granted. The flight will be operated by a Boeing 777-200ER with 283-seats, 48 in BusinessFirst and 235 in coach.

“We commend the Department of Transportation for opening the door to new competition between the U.S. and China,” said Larry Kellner, chairman and CEO of Continental Airlines. “Business travelers will appreciate how easy and convenient it is to use Continental to access Beijing’s thriving network of high-tech industries and manufacturing plants.”

Kellner thanked his coworkers, elected officials and thousands of concerned citizens and corporations for their support in securing service to Beijing. Nearly 13,000 Continental employees sent letters to the Department of Transportation, Congress and state and local officials urging approval.

In March 2001, Continental launched daily nonstop service from New York/Newark to Hong Kong.

The 13-hour flight (CO 89) will depart Liberty, subject to government approval, at noon, arriving in Beijing at 1:50 p.m. the next day. The return flight (CO 88) will leave the People’s Republic of China at 3:50 p.m., arriving in the United States 13 hrs. 25 minutes later at 5:15 p.m.

With a population of 1.3 billion, the People’s Republic of China is the largest country in the world. Beijing is the nation’s capital − home to more than 12.5 million people. Although a largely industrial city comprised of textile mills, steel factories, and chemical and manufacturing plants, a significant portion of Beijing’s economy revolves around the high-technology sector. As the country’s economic and political center, Beijing is a crucial transportation hub for the rest of China.

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