Continental Airlines today
announced that it has received final approval from the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) to begin service to Beijing, China from Newark
Liberty International Airport. Daily nonstop service will begin June 15 and will be operated by a
283-seat Boeing 777-200ER.

Tickets will be available soon through continental.com and other
distribution channels.

Continental, which serves more airports around the world than any other
airline, will be the only U.S. carrier offering daily nonstop service from
New York to the People’s Republic of China.

The 13-hour flight will depart Liberty at noon, arriving in Beijing at
1:50 p.m. the next day. The return flight will leave the People’s Republic
of China at 3:50 p.m., arriving in the United States 13 hours and 25
minutes later at 5:15 p.m.

“The Beijing route holds exceptional long-term promise since it connects
the world’s fastest growing economy with the financial center of the
U.S.,” said Continental Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner. “Our new flight to
China will offer our award-winning BusinessFirst service and will feature
vast connecting opportunities from our hub at Newark Liberty.”

Kellner thanked the Transportation Department for expeditiously awarding
Continental the route and for negotiating the bilateral agreement that
opened the door for new competition to serve China.
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