Press Release Source: Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines to Inaugurate Daily Non-Stop Service Between New York and New Delhi, India
Wednesday April 6, 9:00 am ET
– First Scheduled Nonstop Flight Between the U.S. and IndiaNEW YORK, April 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL – News) announced today that it will launch daily nonstop flights between its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and New Delhi, India beginning Oct. 31, 2005 subject to government approval.
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The service will reduce travel time between New York and New Delhi by at least two and a half hours by eliminating any stop or connection en route.New Delhi will become the 25th city in Continental’s trans-Atlantic route network.
“This new long-range route to India represents further evolution of our successful trans-Atlantic network from New York/Newark,” said Jim Summerford, Continental’s vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Travelers between New York and New Delhi will find it much more convenient to use our nonstop service, and our hub in the northeastern United States provides excellent connections to dozens of other cities.”
Flight CO82 will depart New York/Newark daily at 9:05 p.m. and arrive at New Delhi at 9:30 p.m. the next day. Flight CO83 will depart New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport daily at 11:30 p.m. and will arrive at New York/Newark at 4:50 a.m. the next day. Flying times will be approximately 13 hours and 55 minutes traveling east from New York to New Delhi and 15 hours and 50 minutes traveling west.
This new service will be Continental’s second longest nonstop trip at 7,323 miles-second only to New York to Hong Kong which is 8,060 miles.
Continental’s New York/Newark to New Delhi flights will be operated with a 283-seat Boeing 777 aircraft with a capacity of 48 passengers in the BusinessFirst cabin and 235 in the Economy class.
BusinessFirst features specially-engineered electronic sleeperseats in a 2-2-2 configuration with a 55-inch seat pitch and adjustable winged headrests. The BusinessFirst seat on the 777 is among the widest business class seats in the world, measuring 22 inches between the armrests and offering a 170-degree recline and more than six feet of sleeping space in the fully-extended position. Other features include privacy hoods and large seat side wings for greater privacy. All BusinessFirst seats feature a laptop computer power outlet, a satellite telephone, a flexible neck reading light and a personal entertainment system offering 16 channels of video, 20 channels of audio and up to 10 video games. Other BusinessFirst amenities include gourmet menu selections created by Continental’s Congress of Chefs and fresh cappuccino or espresso coffee made on request. A specially selected corps of more than 200 trained Concierges provides individualized pre-flight and post-flight services for BusinessFirst customers at 21 key international airports worldwide.
Economy class on the Continental 777 is also exceptionally comfortable and spacious in a 3-3-3 seating configuration with wide aisles. Every economy class passenger benefits from an individual seatback video system with eight channels of video, 20 channels of audio and up to 10 video games as well as an in-flight telephone with over-water capacity. The first few rows in the economy class also feature individual laptop computer outlets.
The New Delhi flights have been conveniently timed to connect at New York/Newark with an extensive network of service throughout the U.S., Canada and Latin America. Continental is the only major airline to operate a hub in the New York metropolitan area-Newark Liberty International Airport. Located about 15 miles from downtown Manhattan, Liberty International offers the fastest travel times to many parts of the city, including the Air Train service to New York Penn Station in midtown Manhattan. One-way fares between Liberty International and New York Penn Station are $11.55 on New Jersey Transit and $23 on Amtrak. Travel time is less than 30 minutes.
Passengers arriving at Liberty International on Continental flights from New Delhi will be able to use exclusive immigration and customs facilities in Terminal C3, Continental’s Global Gateway, and connect quickly and easily with Continental’s 402 daily flights from Liberty International to 170 destinations throughout the Americas.
India is one of the world’s most exciting tourist destinations. According to the Government of India’s Ministry of Tourism, foreign tourist arrivals in January and February 2005 were up by 14.5 percent and 17.3 percent respectively on the same months during the previous year.
India is the world’s seventh largest and second most populous country, with a population of more than 1 billion people.
Reservations are now being accepted for flights beginning Oct. 31 by logging on to continental.com .
Continental Airlines is the world’s sixth-largest airline with more than 3,000 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. The carrier serves 152 domestic and 122 international destinations, more than any other carrier in the world. Nearly 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines, which include Aeromexico, Air France/KLM, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines. With 41,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and carries approximately 55 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 won major awards at the 2004 OAG Airline of the Year Awards including “Airline of the Year,” “Best Airline Based in North America” and “Best Executive/Business Class.” For more company information, visit continental.com .
Source: Continental Airlines
Wonder where the extra 777’s are going to appear from?
By: greekdude1 - 8th April 2005 at 19:22
surely SQ wouldn’t want to take custom away from their own offshoots on the LHR-JFK route? (ie SQ own 49% of Virgin)
Yeah, I was wondering about SQ, because they are ‘forced’ I guess you can say, to fly to JFK from FRA (I’ve flown them on that segment) but I suppose they would prefer to serve JFK from LHR. It’s only right for them to be granted the rights to operate this route given the aformentioned rights BA and QF have from SIN on to LHR. I had also forgotten about NZ’s LAX-LHR flights, but can they actually sell seats for just that segment, or is it just a continuation from AKL-LAX? I know TG can’t sell tickets on their SYD-AKL segment, but EK can. UA can’t sell seats on the SYD-MEL portion of the LAX-SYD flight.
By: greekdude1 - 8th April 2005 at 19:22
surely SQ wouldn’t want to take custom away from their own offshoots on the LHR-JFK route? (ie SQ own 49% of Virgin)
Yeah, I was wondering about SQ, because they are ‘forced’ I guess you can say, to fly to JFK from FRA (I’ve flown them on that segment) but I suppose they would prefer to serve JFK from LHR. It’s only right for them to be granted the rights to operate this route given the aformentioned rights BA and QF have from SIN on to LHR. I had also forgotten about NZ’s LAX-LHR flights, but can they actually sell seats for just that segment, or is it just a continuation from AKL-LAX? I know TG can’t sell tickets on their SYD-AKL segment, but EK can. UA can’t sell seats on the SYD-MEL portion of the LAX-SYD flight.
By: Mark L - 8th April 2005 at 10:54
Yup, ANZ do sell their LHR-LAX independent from their LHR-AKL service as well.
By: Mark L - 8th April 2005 at 10:54
Yup, ANZ do sell their LHR-LAX independent from their LHR-AKL service as well.
By: rdc1000 - 8th April 2005 at 10:07
I think BA would eb the airline to suffer given the number of flights it has by comparison to Virgin, and to be honest although SIA owns a decent proportion of Virgin they do not work in close partnership other than some codeshares etc. I also forgot to mention that Air New Zealand has 5th freedom rights between LHR and the US, although I don’t think they excercise these rights, which I guess would only amount to LAX even if they did!
By: rdc1000 - 8th April 2005 at 10:07
I think BA would eb the airline to suffer given the number of flights it has by comparison to Virgin, and to be honest although SIA owns a decent proportion of Virgin they do not work in close partnership other than some codeshares etc. I also forgot to mention that Air New Zealand has 5th freedom rights between LHR and the US, although I don’t think they excercise these rights, which I guess would only amount to LAX even if they did!
By: Bhoy - 8th April 2005 at 09:55
surely SQ wouldn’t want to take custom away from their own offshoots on the LHR-JFK route? (ie SQ own 49% of Virgin)
By: Bhoy - 8th April 2005 at 09:55
surely SQ wouldn’t want to take custom away from their own offshoots on the LHR-JFK route? (ie SQ own 49% of Virgin)
By: rdc1000 - 8th April 2005 at 09:50
Adding a non-stop to augment the one-stop wouldn’t be a bad idea, in my opinion. Also, what 5th freedom rights do Cathay and Kuwait have similar to this?
Kuwait Airways is permitted to pick up passengers at LHR to carry transatlantic, currently they ahve 3 flights per week LHR – JFK. Cathay Pacific has just gained fifth freedom rights from LHR to the US in exchange for Virgin being permitted to operate to Oz via Hong Kong (and getting 5ths there obviously), this greaves Singapore Airlines who have been lobbying to get 5ths through LHR to the US for a long time (and considering they permit UK carriers to pick up Oz bound traffic from Singapore and have done for a lot of years then it is undertsandable that they are annoyed!
By: rdc1000 - 8th April 2005 at 09:50
Adding a non-stop to augment the one-stop wouldn’t be a bad idea, in my opinion. Also, what 5th freedom rights do Cathay and Kuwait have similar to this?
Kuwait Airways is permitted to pick up passengers at LHR to carry transatlantic, currently they ahve 3 flights per week LHR – JFK. Cathay Pacific has just gained fifth freedom rights from LHR to the US in exchange for Virgin being permitted to operate to Oz via Hong Kong (and getting 5ths there obviously), this greaves Singapore Airlines who have been lobbying to get 5ths through LHR to the US for a long time (and considering they permit UK carriers to pick up Oz bound traffic from Singapore and have done for a lot of years then it is undertsandable that they are annoyed!
By: greekdude1 - 8th April 2005 at 07:33
There was some talk of using them on a Toronto or Vancouver-Sydney non-stop, but i don’t think it’s come to fruition as yet
Surely a YVR-SYD non-stop flight would simply augment their 2 existing YVR-HNL-SYD flights, which should be money makers for them. I flew this segment back in December, and they picked up a number of UA pax (not to mention their own originating in YVR) from both LAX (the wife and I being 2 of them) and SFO in HNL and continued on to SYD. I don’t see them canceling these either way. Weren’t they supposed to begin non-stop YYZ-HKG service with the A345?
By: greekdude1 - 8th April 2005 at 07:33
There was some talk of using them on a Toronto or Vancouver-Sydney non-stop, but i don’t think it’s come to fruition as yet
Surely a YVR-SYD non-stop flight would simply augment their 2 existing YVR-HNL-SYD flights, which should be money makers for them. I flew this segment back in December, and they picked up a number of UA pax (not to mention their own originating in YVR) from both LAX (the wife and I being 2 of them) and SFO in HNL and continued on to SYD. I don’t see them canceling these either way. Weren’t they supposed to begin non-stop YYZ-HKG service with the A345?
By: steve rowell - 8th April 2005 at 05:43
[QUOTE=greekdude1].
What does AC use their A345’s for? Do they even take full advantage of its range?
There was some talk of using them on a Toronto or Vancouver-Sydney non-stop, but i don’t think it’s come to fruition as yet
By: steve rowell - 8th April 2005 at 05:43
[QUOTE=greekdude1].
What does AC use their A345’s for? Do they even take full advantage of its range?
There was some talk of using them on a Toronto or Vancouver-Sydney non-stop, but i don’t think it’s come to fruition as yet
By: KabirT - 8th April 2005 at 02:48
That’s fair enough. Can’t blame the ones out here that fly SQ, granted at the time they had to stop twice, whereas now with the LAX-SIN non-stop, they only have to stop once. Plus, Air India flies to LAX via FRA now.
What does AC use their A345’s for? Do they even take full advantage of its range?
Indeed. They get to fly between JFK and Heathrow and sell seats just for that segment, where only 4 other airlines are allowed to do so. They would be foolish to not operate this route. Adding a non-stop to augment the one-stop wouldn’t be a bad idea, in my opinion. Also, what 5th freedom rights do Cathay and Kuwait have similar to this?
yes but i doubt any sane person will gamble such a long flight with AI. :diablo:
I dont know what sectors the A345s are used, maybe LHR or NRT?
By: KabirT - 8th April 2005 at 02:48
That’s fair enough. Can’t blame the ones out here that fly SQ, granted at the time they had to stop twice, whereas now with the LAX-SIN non-stop, they only have to stop once. Plus, Air India flies to LAX via FRA now.
What does AC use their A345’s for? Do they even take full advantage of its range?
Indeed. They get to fly between JFK and Heathrow and sell seats just for that segment, where only 4 other airlines are allowed to do so. They would be foolish to not operate this route. Adding a non-stop to augment the one-stop wouldn’t be a bad idea, in my opinion. Also, what 5th freedom rights do Cathay and Kuwait have similar to this?
yes but i doubt any sane person will gamble such a long flight with AI. :diablo:
I dont know what sectors the A345s are used, maybe LHR or NRT?
By: greekdude1 - 7th April 2005 at 21:46
Most Indians i know heading towards US use LH or BA. Maybe its the other way around from US.
That’s fair enough. Can’t blame the ones out here that fly SQ, granted at the time they had to stop twice, whereas now with the LAX-SIN non-stop, they only have to stop once. Plus, Air India flies to LAX via FRA now.
and yes AC operates a direct service to Delhi using A343…. a 14 hr flight.
What does AC use their A345’s for? Do they even take full advantage of its range?
Why would AI want to go direct when they currently have an almost unique (apart from Cathay and Kuwait) position in that they have 5th freedom rights to pick and carry passengers on the worlds number one route, and to carry transatlantic passengers from LHR full stop.
Indeed. They get to fly between JFK and Heathrow and sell seats just for that segment, where only 4 other airlines are allowed to do so. They would be foolish to not operate this route. Adding a non-stop to augment the one-stop wouldn’t be a bad idea, in my opinion. Also, what 5th freedom rights do Cathay and Kuwait have similar to this?
By: greekdude1 - 7th April 2005 at 21:46
Most Indians i know heading towards US use LH or BA. Maybe its the other way around from US.
That’s fair enough. Can’t blame the ones out here that fly SQ, granted at the time they had to stop twice, whereas now with the LAX-SIN non-stop, they only have to stop once. Plus, Air India flies to LAX via FRA now.
and yes AC operates a direct service to Delhi using A343…. a 14 hr flight.
What does AC use their A345’s for? Do they even take full advantage of its range?
Why would AI want to go direct when they currently have an almost unique (apart from Cathay and Kuwait) position in that they have 5th freedom rights to pick and carry passengers on the worlds number one route, and to carry transatlantic passengers from LHR full stop.
Indeed. They get to fly between JFK and Heathrow and sell seats just for that segment, where only 4 other airlines are allowed to do so. They would be foolish to not operate this route. Adding a non-stop to augment the one-stop wouldn’t be a bad idea, in my opinion. Also, what 5th freedom rights do Cathay and Kuwait have similar to this?
By: rdc1000 - 7th April 2005 at 21:26
I don’t know why AI don’t go direct but I assume that AI know that DEL-LHR is a good route and then LHR-EWR/JFK is a good route. So really AI are killing two birds with one stone.
Why would AI want to go direct when they currently have an almost unique (apart from Cathay and Kuwait) position in that they have 5th freedom rights to pick and carry passengers on the worlds number one route, and to carry transatlantic passengers from LHR full stop.
By: rdc1000 - 7th April 2005 at 21:26
I don’t know why AI don’t go direct but I assume that AI know that DEL-LHR is a good route and then LHR-EWR/JFK is a good route. So really AI are killing two birds with one stone.
Why would AI want to go direct when they currently have an almost unique (apart from Cathay and Kuwait) position in that they have 5th freedom rights to pick and carry passengers on the worlds number one route, and to carry transatlantic passengers from LHR full stop.
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April 6, 2005 at 8:33 pm