Continental Airlines has been
named for the eighth consecutive year to HISPANIC Magazine’s “Hispanic
Corporate 100: One Hundred Companies Providing the Most Opportunities for
Hispanics,” which appears in the January/February 2005 issue. “Diversity is an integral part of Continental Airlines’ employee base, as
well as our business operations,” said Pete Garcia, Staff Vice President,
Latin America. “Continental is an industry leader in providing Hispanic-
friendly service and Latino community support and we are proud to have
earned a place on HISPANIC Magazine’s ‘Corporate 100’ list again this
year.”

The magazine article highlights Continental’s 5-year-old diversity
council, whose “seven leaders from senior management ... act as the firm’s
champions for diversity, with the executives making presentations to such
groups as the Houston Minority Business Council,” the article says. It
also mentions the airline’s sponsorship of Hispanic organizations and
community events, as well as Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations for
employees.

HISPANIC selects companies for the listing based on their diversity
training, recruitment efforts, ethnic representation on boards, minority
business initiatives, and philanthropic donations to Hispanic communities.

Each year, Continental supports almost 100 Hispanic organizations and
events throughout the U.S. and operates a Hispanic outreach partnership
called “Volando al Futuro/Flying Toward the Future” with Federal Upward
Bound educational programs in Houston, New York City, San Antonio,
Chicago, Miami and Los Angeles. “Volando al Futuro” awards airline tickets
to high school Upward Bound participants and their parents to make college
visits.

Approximately 17 percent of all Continental Airlines employees are
Hispanic and 6.1 percent of its management is Hispanic. Garcia, the
airline’s highest-ranking Hispanic employee, recently was named to the
company’s Diversity Council. Oscar Munoz, executive vice president and
chief financial officer of CSX Corporation, was named to Continental
Airlines’ Board of Directors in April 2004.

Continental’s “Latinization” initiative for Spanish-speaking customers
includes bilingual flight attendants and Spanish-language entertainment on
board the majority of flights to Latin America; and bilingual customer
service representatives and Spanish-language signage, flight information,
and eService Center kiosk screens in major U.S. airports. From the U.S.
passengers may make reservations in Spanish at 1-800-537-9222, and may
call Continental’s automated Spanish-language flight-information line at
1-800-579-3938 to obtain up-to-date flight arrival, departure and gate
information.
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