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Continental Airlines To Inaugurate New Service At Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport

Twice Daily Flights From Chattanooga to Houston Starting in October

Contact:  Christina Siebold, Manager of Community Relations;
Telephone (423) 855-2234; or e-mail at csiebold@chattairport.com

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., May 16, 2005 - Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL), the City of Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority today announced that the airline will inaugurate daily nonstop service between Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and the airline’s Houston hub at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

The twice-daily service will begin October 1 with introductory fares to Houston starting as low as $198 roundtrip based on 14-day advanced purchase.*

Houston is the fourth largest city in the U.S. and the energy capital of the world.  It is home to the Johnson Space Center, major league sports teams, the Texas Medical Center and the museum district which includes the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Natural Science and the Holocaust Museum. Continental Airlines has been headquartered in Houston since 1982 and the airline is Houston’s fourth largest employer.

“With a population of nearly one million people, the Chattanooga area has historically suffered from a lack of air service, particularly to the western U.S. and Mexico,” said Karen Zachary, Continental’s managing director-strategic planning.  “With this new service, Chattanooga travelers will be able to connect to many cities in the U.S. as well as a range of international destinations.”

At Bush Intercontinental Airport, Continental Airlines offers more than 700 flights a day to more than 180 destinations worldwide providing numerous connecting flight opportunities for travelers from Chattanooga.

The Chattanooga to Houston service will offer service to 47 of the top 50 destinations desired by travelers from the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport, including Dallas/Fort Worth, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Phoenix and San Francisco.  Houston is the gateway to several international destinations to Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, Europe and Asia. 

Chattanooga travelers returning from international travel destinations will find their arrival in Houston eased by a new customs and immigration facility at Bush Intercontinental Airport opened in January.  Located next to Continental Airlines’ new Terminal E, Houston’s airport is able to process international travelers more quickly than competing airports.

The Chattanooga to Houston Schedule will be as follows:

(Flight times on Saturdays are different.)           

Chattanooga travelers will fly on ExpressJet Airlines, Inc., which operates as Continental Express, the regional provider for Continental Airlines. ExpressJet passengers receive efficient service and comfortable leather seating, along with advance seat assignments and OnePass frequent flyer miles that can be redeemed on Continental and partner airlines. Chattanooga travelers will fly on an Embraer Regional Jet with a seating capacity of 37.  These jets come with individual reading lamps; individual air conditioning outlets; full-size lavatory; storage for carry-on luggage and a wardrobe closet.

Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield said both citizens and business leaders will be pleased with this new service.

"Over the past year and a half citizens and businesses have given generously, providing us with resources to aggressively pursue the addition of western air service,” said Mayor Littlefield.  “We are delighted to welcome Continental into this market and are very pleased that they will be bringing direct service from Chattanooga to Houston two times a day.  This is an important enhancement for our city and another great step in providing competitively priced transportation options to our citizens.

Tennessee Congressman Zach Wamp (R-District 3) added, "I support the Chattanooga Airport Authority as it works hard to increase traffic and our competitiveness in the Southeast region. The Chattanooga-Continental Airlines agreement demonstrates how our community continues to position itself as a commercial and technology center with transportation systems that encourage investment and expansion while opening up our opportunities throughout the nation."           

"As you know from the steady increase in recent boardings, our community has rallied in support of the advantages and convenience of traveling from our airport,” said Dan Jacobson, chairman, Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority Board of Commissioners.  “This same support was key in recruiting this service and will ensure its success as we open up new routes to the West. We deeply appreciate the region's continued support of the Chattanooga Airport and we look forward to many years of successful partnership with Continental Airlines."

Customers in Chattanooga will receive Continental’s industry-leading service and amenities including:

• The ability to book flights, check in, redeem frequent flyer awards and more at Continental.com;

• OnePass frequent flyer miles for every trip;

• EliteAccess benefits for business travelers and elite-level frequent flyers, featuring priority check-in, boarding, seating and baggage handling;

• Online check-in up to 24 hours before departure and automated self-service check-in at every airport Continental services in the U.S.

Continental Airlines is the world’s sixth-largest airline.  Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 3,000 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 150 domestic and 130 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 together with Continental Express, carries approximately 56 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.”

*Seats at this fare are limited.  The fare does not include the U.S. excise tax of $3.10 per flight segment, passenger facility charges of up to $18 and the September 11 Security Fee of up to $10.  A flight segment is defined as a take-off and landing.