Continental Airlines (English)

Continental Airlines was an American airline that flew from 1934 to 2010 and had its headquarters in Houston, Texas. Continental Express and Continental Connection was its regional subsidiaries. It was the fourth largest airline in the United States. Continental flew to destinations in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Continental was founded by Walter T. Varney (who was also the founder of United Airlines) in 1934 as Varney Speed ​​Airlines based in El Paso, Texas. The airline began flying with the Lockheed Vega, a single engine plane that could carry up to four passengers. It flew from El Paso to Albuquerque, Santa Fe and from Las Vegas, New Mexico to Pueblo, Colorado. On July 5, 1936, Robert Six became CEO and provided $ 90,000 for the airline. In 1936 it purchased the Denver - Pueblo from from Wyoming Air Service. On July 8, 1937, Varney Speed Airlines changed its name to Continental Airlines. In October 1937 Robert Six moved its base to Denver, Colorado. During the Second World War, Continental's maintenance facility in Denver became a conversion center where the airline converted its aircraft in B-17, B-29 and P-51 for the Air Force of the United States. In 1946, Continental expanded its routes from Denver to Kansas City and Tulsa / Oklahoma City, and from Albuquerque to El Paso and San Antonio. In 1953, Continental reported its first major expansion after merging with Pioneer Airlines, gaining permission to fly to 16 additional cities in Texas and New Mexico. Continental was, like many U.S. at the time, essentially a regional airline flying a limited number of flights and Robert Six was greatly dissatisfied with this situation. He lobbied hard to CAB for longer distance routes to larger cities, as part of its plan to transform the airline from regular operations into a major airline such as United, TWA, and American. In the late 50, CAB granted Robert Six permission to grow the airline and in 1957 Continental flew for the first time from Chicago to Los Angeles and Denver and from Los Angeles to Kansas City. Continental used Vickers Viscount turboprop aircraft on new routes. The CAB allowed Continental to abandon many of its flights to small towns in its network, allowing its new jets to operate more economically between points with greater distance radius. Continental Airlines was the first to create a comprehensive system of economic travel rates that allowed for a rate cut in more than 25 percent. Continental was one of the first operators of the Boeing 707, receiving the first of four 707s in the spring of 1959. In 1963 the airline moved its base from Denver to Los Angeles. In 1963, Continental hired the first African-American pilot who ever worked at any of the big U.S. airlines, Marlon D. Green, after a decision of the Supreme Court of the United States that an anti-discrimination law in Colorado applied in this case against Continental. In the late 60's, Continental retired the last of its turboprop and piston aircraft. In 1968 Continental Airlines introduced a new livery of gold and orange stripes parallel adorned with a "black turbulence" that made ​​up the logo (designed by Six's friend, the famous graphic designer Saul Bass) on the tails of its aircraft (the logo was later modified to a red color). During the Vietnam War, Continental provided a number of transport cargo and troops to the United States Navy and Marine Corps bases in Asia and the Pacific. Continental's 707 were the most common non military planes passing through Saigon, at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport. In May 1968 Continental formed Air Micronesia a subsidiary based in Guam that flew in the Pacific whose name was later changed to Continental Micronesia. On June 26, 1970 Continental was the first airline to introduce the 747 on domestic flights in the United States. On June 1, 1972 Continental began flights with widebody McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft. In 1978 with the effects of approval of the Airline Deregulation Act, Continental, embarked on an aggressive expansion plan routes. During 1978, Continental explored the possibility of a merger with Western Airlines. On October 31, 1982 Continental merged with Texas Air Corporation. The merger retained the Continental name, brand and identity and the Texas International name, brand and identity disappeared. The "new Continental" relocated its base where Texas International's base was in Houston, Texas and Frank Lorenzo became CEO. Frank Lorenzo put Continental though Chapter 11 bankruptcy on September 23, 1983, after failing to reach an agreement to reduce wages with the unions. During its time in bankruptcy, Continental was forced to abandon its base in Los Angeles. On April 28, 1985, Continental began its first scheduled flights to Europe with flights from Newark and Houston to London and soon after, began flights also to Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid-Barajas airport and Munich. On June 30, 1986, Continental left chapter 11 bankruptcy. On September 15, 1986, Texas Air acquired PeopleExpress. On February 1, 1987, People Express, Frontier, New York Air, and some other feeder airlines merged with Continental Airlines creating the third largest airline in the U.S. (and the sixth largest airline in the world). In 1987 Continental proposed the creation of a frequent flyer program called OnePass (in conjunction with Eastern Airlines). At the end of the 80s Continental expanded its flights at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and established which would become its third base of operations for its extensive network of destinations. In 1990, Frank Lorenzo retired after 18 years at the helm of Texas International and later Texas Air and Continental Airlines, selling most of his share capital to Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS). On December 3, 1990, Continental entered its second bankruptcy in a decade. On February 12, 1991, Continental introduced its new blue and gray livery with the logo of a "globe" on the tail that is now used by United Airlines. In 1993, Air Canada, along with Air Partners and Texas Pacific Group, enabled Continental to emerge from bankruptcy investing $450 million in the airline and in October 1994 Gordon Bethune, a former Boeing executive became CEO. Under Gordon Bethune, Continental became a global airline and ordered a new fleet of aircraft. After the opening of Denver International Airport on February 28, 1995 Continental closed its base in Denver. In September 1997 the airline announced its intention to consolidate its Houston base in the Continental Center complex. In early 1998, Continental inaugurated flights to Ireland and Scotland, and in October 1998 the airline received its first Boeing 777, allowing more flights to many destinations such as Tel Aviv, Israel, Hong Kong, China, India and European destinations. In 1998 Continental signed an alliance with Northwest Airlines, which lasted until 2008 when Northwest merged with Delta. On March 1, 2001, Continental launched direct flights from Newark to Hong Kong, flying over the northern polar circle. It was part of the Skyteam alliance from 2002 to 2008 that included Northwest, Delta and Air France. In 2005, Continental expanded its flights from Newark to Beijing after Chinese authorities gave them permission to fly that route. In 2005 Continental expaned flights to Asia with the introduction of direct flights between Newark and New Delhi, India. In May 2006, Continental Airlines surpassed Northwest to became the fourth largest airline in the United States. In May 2008, Continental Airlines sold its stake in Panamanian flag airline Copa Panama. On June 19, 2008, Continental left Skyteam alliance and joined Star Allance that included United, U.S. Airways and Lufthansa. On May 3, 2010 Continental Airlines and United Airlines announced that they would merge to become the largest airline in the world. In its last year of operations it flew to destinations throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia and flew a fleet of 737s, 757s, 767s and Boeing 777s. Continental would have been the first U.S. airline to fly the Boeing 787. Continental was the fourth largest airline in the United States. It flew to destinations throughout the Americas, Euorpe, Middle East and Asia. Its headquarters were in Houston and had major bases in Houston, Newark, Cleveland and Guam. Jeffery A. Smisek was final CEO of Continental. United Airlines retained the colors of Continental after the merger.