Continental Airlines and KLM extend and expand codeshare agreement

Continental Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines have extended the duration and expanded the scope of the cooperative marketing agreement they initiated in 2001. The agreement, which includes codesharing and reciprocal frequent flyer program participation and airport lounge access, will now run until 2010 and will include codesharing to additional destinations.

The renewed agreement, which continues to incorporate the two carriers’ joint partner Northwest Airlines, sees Continental and KLM continuing to codeshare on flights beyond their hubs in Houston, New York/Newark and  Amsterdam to a wide range of destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (on KLM flights) and in the United States (on Continental flights).

Subject to government approval, Continental will place its code (CO*) on KLM flights beyond Amsterdam to an additional 22 destinations, bringing the total number of Continental codeshare destinations on KLM to 64. The  additional Continental codeshare destinations include Casablanca, Istanbul, Lagos, Prague and the following United Kingdom destinations: Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Humberside, Leeds/Bradford, London City, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich and Teesside.

“Both airlines have benefited greatly from our cooperation to date,” said David Grizzle, Continental’s Senior Vice President for Corporate Development. “This long-term agreement builds on that success and confirms that KLM is Continental’s primary European partner.”

Continental, KLM and Northwest said they intend to jointly improve and extend connections for their passengers at their hubs and gateways.

The existing agreement between Continental and KLM offers major benefits to both carriers’ customers, particularly their frequent flyers. Members of the two airlines’ frequent flyer programs can earn and redeem miles on all flights operated by the other carrier. The carriers’ business class passengers and lounge club members have access to the other  airline’s lounges at New York/Newark, Houston Bush Intercontinental and Amsterdam/Schiphol.