Continental Airlines, the
world’s sixth largest airline and the OAG “Airline of the Year 2005,”
today announced that it will double the number of first class seats
offered on its Boeing 757-300 aircraft. The initiative is a result of high
demand for the carrier’s acclaimed first class service as the fleet is
expanded and deployed into a more diverse set of markets. “We are seeing a significant increase in demand for our first class
product, a result of our competitive fares as well as our complimentary
upgrade program for OnePass Elite members,” said Larry Kellner,
Continental’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We are expanding our
Boeing 757-300 fleet from nine to seventeen aircraft, and we’re going to
offer a larger first class cabin to accommodate this demand.”

Continental’s Boeing 757-300 aircraft are currently equipped with 12 seats
in the first class cabin and 210 in coach. With the seat reconfiguration,
the aircraft will have 24 seats in first class and 192 in coach. The first
of the reconfigured aircraft is scheduled to be completed this summer,
with the remainder to be completed by early 2006.

Continental’s first class customers enjoy many benefits, including a
higher level of service with EliteAccess privileges, which offers priority
check-in, boarding, security screening and baggage handling. OnePass
members purchasing first class receive 150 percent of actual miles that
qualify toward Elite status. Continental’s first class service is widely
regarded as the best in the industry. The carrier earned the OAG “Best
Executive/Business Class” award for the third consecutive year in 2005,
and is consistently cited in publications like Conde Nast Traveler as
having the best Business Class service, the best trans-Atlantic service
and the best trans-Pacific service among U.S. carriers.
——-