This is huge for CAL especially since we own the slots which is better then leasing them which is what DL and NW are doing

NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2007 – Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL), the world’s fifth largest airline, today announced that it will launch nonstop flights to London/Heathrow from both its New York and Houston hubs on March 29, 2008, subject to government approval and slot approval.

Continental will offer twice-daily nonstop service to Heathrow from both Newark Liberty International Airport and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The airline will continue to offer nonstop flights to London/Gatwick from both New York (twice daily) and Houston (daily), as well as Cleveland (daily, seasonal).

“At last we will be able to give our customers something they have long requested -- the opportunity to fly to both London’s main airports with their preferred airline,” said Larry Kellner, Continental’s chairman and CEO. “At the same time, we will be able to show transAtlantic travelers already using Heathrow what they have been missing. We look forward to the chance to compete at Europe's most important business airport.”

Effective March 29, 2008, Continental’s London schedule will be as follows (subject to approval). Continental will own each of the Heathrow arrival/departure slots necessary to operate this schedule:

To Heathrow

Origin
Flight no.
Departure
Arrival
Frequency
Aircraft type

New York Liberty
CO 18
9:00 a.m.
9:15 p.m.
Daily
767-200ER

Houston
CO 4
6:25 p.m.
9:35 a.m.*
Daily
777

New York Liberty
CO 28**
6:40 p.m.
6:45 a.m.*
Daily
777

Houston
CO 32
10:25 p.m.
2:05 p.m.*
Daily
767-200ER




From Heathrow

Destination
Flight no.
Departure
Arrival
Frequency
Aircraft type

Houston
CO 33
8:30 a.m.
1:05 p.m.
Daily
767-200ER

New York Liberty
CO 29
10:25 a.m.
1:15 p.m.
Daily
777

Houston
CO 5
11:15 a.m.
3:35 p.m.
Daily
777

New York Liberty
CO 19
4:00 p.m.
7:15 p.m.
Daily
767-200ER




To Gatwick

Origin
Flight no.
Departure
Arrival
Frequency
Aircraft type

Houston
CO 34
4:00 p.m.
7:45 a.m.*
Daily
767-400ER

New York Liberty
CO 114
6:35 p.m.
6:55 a.m.*
Daily
757-200

Cleveland
CO 66
7:20 p.m.
7:50 a.m.*
Daily, seasonal
757-200

New York Liberty
CO 116
8:25 p.m.
8:40 a.m.*
Daily
757-200




From Gatwick

Destination
Flight no.
Departure
Arrival
Frequency
Aircraft type

Houston
CO 35
9:30 a.m.
2:05 p.m.
Daily
767-400ER

New York Liberty
CO 115
9:30 a.m.
1:05 p.m.
Daily
757-200

Cleveland
CO 67
11:20 a.m.
3:00 p.m.
Daily, seasonal
757-200

New York Liberty
CO 117
11:30 a.m.
2:55 p.m.
Daily
757-200




* indicates next-day arrival

 

Except we are stealing aircraft from other routes to fly these. Cal's problem is that we are short on widebodies, By widebodies I mean airplanes not some of the 83-85 hires.

 

That was good.

 

Yeah I keep hearing 777-300ER rumors, but I think LHR will be more profitalble then HNL-NGO.

 

I heard that rumor also. CAL will just want us to promise our first born, keep pbs, and give up more pay when section 6 comes around. I do agree that it will be more profitable than NGO. Considering BA is flying empty 777s to IAH it doesn't sound like we'll have much competition.

 

The IAH-London Market is a huge money maker, that is the reason IAH along with DFW were announced as the first two cities that BA changed to LHR. I doubt BA is flying Empty, they do a IAH-ORD-LHR just to tap into the IAH-LHR market. I know our 2 LGW flights are full and I bet BA's are to.

LHR slots were the main contention CAL was against open skies two years ago, because without them our IAH-LGW would die on vine. Some changes were made in this new agreement that allowed us to make sure we got the slots we wanted to compete.

 

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,311566,00.html

 

Perhaps they just might reduce service to Gatwick and use the planes for LHR? Just a thought.