Continental Airlines has implemented interline eTicket capability with 33 carriers worldwide, and expects to add 24 more interline eTicket partner airlines in the first half of 2006. Continental expects to eliminate issuing and accepting paper tickets well ahead of the year-end 2007 IATA-mandated deadline.

As part of this program, Continental recently canceled 12 additional interline ticketing and baggage agreements with airlines that have been either unwilling or unable to implement electronic interline capabilities, bringing the total number canceled under its paperless initiative program to 105.

Interline eTickets permit customers to fly and check baggage on Continental and other carriers on a single paperless eTicket itinerary.

Continental expects all of its travelers will soon be using convenient eTickets, which reduce loss, theft and paperwork hassles for customers and the airline.

Currently, 98 percent of Continental’s domestic customers and 92 percent of its international customers travel on eTickets. eTickets are valid at all of the 286 airports served by Continental around the world.

“One of our top priorities is to work together with our interline partners to improve passenger convenience when traveling on a multi-carrier itinerary,” said Mark Erwin, senior vice president, Asia/Pacific and corporate development.

“We have already implemented eTicketing with partners representing over 80 percent of our interline revenue and plan to complete rolling out interline e-ticketing with all our partners well ahead of the IATA deadline.”

Continental Airlines is the world’s sixth-largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 3,000 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 151 domestic and 133 international destinations, more than any other carrier in the world.

More than 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines, which include Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines. With over 42,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries approximately 60 million passengers per year. Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture.

For the second consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 Most Admired Global Airline on its 2005 list of Most Admired Global Companies. Continental was also included in the publication’s annual “Top 50” list, which ranks all companies, across a wide variety of industries, that appear in the Global Most Admired Companies issue.

Continental again won major awards at the 2005 OAG Airline of the Year Awards including “Airline of the Year” and “Best Airline Based in North America” for the second consecutive year, and “Best Executive/Business Class” for the third consecutive year.
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