Continental Connection to link Ottawa with 17 Northeast business centres

Continental Connection today announced it will introduce twice-daily, nonstop flights between Ottawa and its hub in Albany, N.Y., with well-timed connections that link Canada's capital with key business destinations throughout the Northeast.

The new Ottawa service, effective Dec. 2, includes convenient connections via Albany to Syracuse, Rochester, Long Island/Islip, Plattsburgh, Saranac Lake/Lake Placid, White Plains and Buffalo, N.Y.; Allentown and Harrisburg, Pa.; Burlington, Vt.; Bangor and Portland, Maine; Boston; Hartford, Conn.; Manchester, N.H.; and Providence, R.I.

Ottawa is the second Canadian destination to join the growing Continental Connection network operated by CommutAir, a regional codeshare partner of Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL), following the start of Montreal service in June. The new flights on 19-seat, Beech 1900 turboprops will complement existing regional jet service between Ottawa and Continental's New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport.

"We're excited to announce new service that provides Continental Connection customers with the best schedule and the fastest-available service between Ottawa and 17 key Northeast business centers," said CommutAir Vice President of Marketing and Planning Joel T. Raymond.

Customers who are members of Continental Airlines' OnePass frequent flyer program earn a minimum of 500 OnePass miles for each Continental Connection segment flown. New OnePass members can earn an additional 1,500 miles after their first flight on Continental Connection.

CommutAir, based in Plattsburgh, N.Y., has served the Northeast as a regional airline since 1989. The company has more than 200 employees and currently serves 19 cities in New York, Pennsylvania, the New England states and Canada, utilizing a new fleet of fast, efficient Beech 1900 aircraft featuring all leather seats.

Continental Airlines is the world's sixth-largest airline and has more than 2,000 daily departures. With 121 domestic and 90 international destinations, Continental has the broadest global route network of any U.S. airline, including extensive service throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.