Continental Airlines was one of 16 companies featured in Latin Business Magazine’s Corporate Diversity Honor Roll for the second consecutive year. “These sixteen corporations are all well above average in their employee diversity programs,” says the introduction to the Latin Business article. “This level of commitment ... entails a personal involvement at all levels of management, as well as the general workforce ... Doing the right thing is good business for all concerned.”

“We are very pleased that our diversity efforts are being recognized and applauded,” said Pete Garcia, VP, Latin America, Continental Airlines. “We embrace and reflect diversity in everything we do, from our workforce to our supplier base, from customer programs to community outreach. Having diversity of ideas, experiences, cultures and lifestyles helps us provide better service to our customers around the world.”

The article mentions Continental’s online supplier-diversity training program, its Diversity Council, and some of the company’s many Hispanic-market sponsorships.

Latin Business magazine is a bimonthly trade magazine with a national circulation of 150,000. The magazine bases its annual list on a corporate diversity survey. Editors review employee, supplier and subcontractor diversity, as well as corporate minority outreach, promotion, retention and marketing programs, the composition of management and boards, and philanthropic endeavors.

Approximately 17.52 percent of Continental’s workforce is of Hispanic descent and Hispanics occupy many top-level positions at the company. Continental is official airline for events of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Publications. In 2007 the airline unveiled a new educational outreach program called “Destino: Latinoamerica” (Destination: Latin America), an essay contest for Hispanic high school students in conjunction with the National Hispanic Press Foundation. The airline’s Latin America Sales group sponsors approximately 100 Hispanic organizations and events each year throughout the United States.

Continental Airlines offers service to 77 destinations in 23 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Continental serves more destinations in Mexico (31) from the U.S. and has more flights from the U.S. to Mexico than any other airline. Continental also serves more cities in Central America (10) than any other U.S. carrier, as well as nine South American destinations and 27 in the Caribbean.
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