Continental Airlines today
announced it has received approval from the governments of the United
States and Nigeria to begin non-stop flights between New York and Lagos. Continental expects to launch the service in the second quarter of 2005.
It will be the only scheduled non-stop trans-Atlantic service to Nigeria
and the only scheduled service to Africa by a U.S. carrier. With the start
of the Lagos route, Continental will become the only U.S. airline to offer
scheduled passenger service to six continents of the world. Further
details of the new service, including the flight schedule and launch date,
will be announced later.

“We’re proud to extend our network to Africa and to provide a unique link
between Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, and the United States,
its second-largest trading partner,” said Continental’s President and
Chief Operating Officer Larry Kellner, who becomes chairman and chief
executive officer at the end of this year. “Our Lagos service will be
highly attractive to Nigerian and American trans-Atlantic travelers,
particularly executives in energy-related industries. They will be able to
fly more quickly and easily between Nigeria and not only New York, but
cities throughout North America, via our hub at Newark Liberty
International Airport.”
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