Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL and CAL.A) and Northwest Airlines (NASDAQ: NWAC) today announced the launch of the world’s largest interline e-ticket network. This technology allows customers to use electronic tickets when their itineraries include travel on both carriers. It also allows the two airlines to accept E-Ticketed customers traveling on changed itineraries involving the other carrier, without the need for conversion to a paper ticket. With interline E-Ticketing, both Continental and Northwest customers will benefit from a more seamless travel experience.

Initially, interline E-Tickets will be issued by Continental and Northwest reservation centers, airports and ticket offices. This capability will be made available in the near future to travel agents and through Continental’s Web site at www.continental.com.

“Generally, customers love E-Ticket, but our business travelers in particular like to have the flexibility to change plans without having to stand in lines,” said Continental Managing Director of E-Commerce Chris Frawley.

“The addition of Northwest as an interline E-Ticket partner is evidence of our continuing commitment to make E-Tickets even easier to use than paper tickets. This kind of progress is particularly welcome in situations where airlines experience service disruptions. Eventually our customers will be able to use their E-Tickets for all major U.S. airlines,” added Frawley.

In October 1999, Continental and America West were the first two U.S. airlines to introduce interline E-Ticket. Continental offers E-Ticket to more than 95 percent of its destinations with more than 60 percent of its customers using E-Tickets domestically.

This summer, Continental and Northwest launched the ability for E-Ticket customers to check-in and receive a boarding pass at each other’s E-Ticketing kiosks in Atlanta International Airport, Tampa International Airport and Terminal B at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport. The airlines plan to fully rollout this process later this year to kiosks across the U.S.

Continental Airlines is the fifth largest airline in the U.S., offering more than 2,400 departures daily to 138 domestic and 92 international destinations. Operating major hubs in Newark, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, Continental (www.continental.com) serves more international cities than any other U.S. carrier, including extensive service throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.

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