Continental Launches Non-Stop Edinburgh/NY
Continental Airlines, the world’s sixth largest airline and OAG Airline of the Year 2004, today launched daily non-stop Boeing 757 flights between Edinburgh and New York/Newark - the first-ever scheduled non-stop transatlantic service from Edinburgh.
“We’re proud to add Scotland’s capital to our U.K. route network and offer a more convenient service to our customers in this region,” said Jim Summerford, Continental’s Vice President Europe & Middle East.Ê “Travellers in the Edinburgh region heading for New York and beyond no longer have to face the hassle and extra journey time of travelling via Heathrow or other European airports - they can fly non-stop to the U.S.A. from their local airport with the world’s best airline.”
Joining Summerford and Mike Carter, Continental’s Senior Director U.K. & Ireland, at the launch celebrations at Edinburgh Airport were Nicol Stephen, Scotland’s Minister for Transport, Richard Jeffrey, Managing Director of Edinburgh Airport, and guests from the region’s business community and travel industry.
“Edinburgh Airport is delighted to welcome Continental Airlines to Scotland’s capital city, and to add New York to our range of over 80 worldwide destinations,” said Richard Jeffrey.Ê “Together I am confident we can make a real success of this new route, on both sides of the Atlantic.”
With the addition of Edinburgh, Continental now operates non-stop flights to the U.S.A. from seven airports in the U.K. and Ireland, more than any other airline.Ê
The new service links Europe’s 6th largest financial centre with the world’s financial capital and provides a new gateway to eastern Scotland for North American visitors, creating additional inbound tourism opportunities.Ê The new route has been supported by the Route Development Fund, a Scottish Executive initiative managed by Scottish Enterprise, which aims to increase the number of new direct air routes to and from Scotland.
The Edinburgh service complements Continental’s daily non-stop service between Glasgow and New York/Newark - until now Scotland’s only year-round transatlantic air link - which has been operating since 1998.Ê
Continental’s Edinburgh-New York/Newark flights are operated with a 172-seat Boeing 757 aircraft, carrying 16 passengers in the award-winning BusinessFirst cabin and 156 in Economy.
Flight CO37 departs Edinburgh daily at 10:00 a.m., arriving at New York/Newark at 12:30 p.m. the same day.ÊÊ The return flight, CO36, departs New York/Newark daily at 8:45 p.m., arriving at Edinburgh at 8:30 a.m. the next day..Ê Flying times are approximately 7 hours 30 minutes westbound and 6 hours 45 minutes eastbound.Ê
The new route has been conveniently timed to connect at New York/Newark with an extensive network of service throughout the U.S.A., Canada and Latin America.Ê Continental is the only major airline to operate a hub in the New York City metropolitan area - Newark Liberty International Airport.Ê Located just 16 miles from downtown Manhattan, Liberty International offers the fastest surface transfer journeys to many parts of the city, including the new AirTrain service to New York Penn Station in midtown Manhattan.Ê One-way fares between Liberty International and New York Penn Station are $11.55 on NJ Transit and $23 on Amtrak and journey time is less than 30 minutes.
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Passengers arriving at Liberty International on Continental flights from Edinburgh can use exclusive immigration and customs facilities in Terminal C3, Continental’s Global Gateway, and connect quickly and easily with Continental’s 369 daily services from Liberty International to 170 destinations throughout the Americas, including 141 served non-stop, in almost all cases without changing terminals.Ê
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ The new flights feature Continental’s renowned BusinessFirst service, which won the Best Executive/Business Class award in the OAG Airline of the Year Awards 2004 for the second year running, based on voting by frequent flyers worldwide.Ê BusinessFirst was also voted Best Transatlantic Business Class among U.S.. airlines in Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s Business Travel Awards 2003 - for the 6th year running.
This premium-class cabin features extra-wide electronic sleeper seats with 55 inch pitch/140-cm pitch, adjustable winged headrests and personal video screens.Ê Other BusinessFirst amenities include gourmet menus and award-winning wines and champagnes.Ê Continental’s complimentary door-to-door limousine transfer service for qualifying BusinessFirst customers features the most comprehensive geographic coverage in both the U.K. and the U.S.A.ÊÊ A specially selected and trained corps of more than 200 Concierges provides individualised pre-flight and post-flight services for BusinessFirst customers at 21Ê key international airports worldwide.
Continental Airlines has been serving the U.K. since 1985 and flies non-stop to New York/Newark from London/Gatwick (twice daily), Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh (each daily); to Houston from London/Gatwick (twice daily); and to Cleveland from London/Gatwick (daily, seasonal).Ê In Ireland, the airline operates daily non-stop services to New York/Newark from both Dublin and Shannon (triangular routing in winter).ÊÊ In addition, Continental and Virgin Atlantic Airways codeshare on Virgin Atlantic-operated flights from London/Heathrow and London/Gatwick to several U..S. cities. Continental’s U.K. reservations number is 0845 60 767 60.
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