Continental Airlines and Brussels Airlines to Start Codeshare Flights

HOUSTON and BRUSSELS, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Star Alliance partners Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) and Brussels Airlines today announced plans to start codesharing on Continental's trans-Atlantic flights between New York and Brussels, as well as on selected flights operated by each carrier on both sides of the Atlantic.

Effective August 9, 2010, Continental will place its "CO*" code on selected Brussels Airlines-operated flights between Brussels and nine cities in Europe (Bologna, Italy; Bristol, London/Heathrow and Newcastle, United Kingdom; Hanover, Germany; and Lyons, Marseilles, Paris/Charles de Gaulle and Toulouse, France) and between Brussels and 12 cities in Africa (Accra, Ghana; Banjul, Gambia; Bujumbura, Burundi; Cotonou, Benin; Dakar, Senegal; Douala and Yaounde, Cameroon; Entebbe, Uganda; Kigali, Rwanda; Monrovia, Liberia; Nairobi, Kenya; and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso).

At the same time, Brussels Airlines will place its "SN*" code on Continental's daily flights between Brussels and its New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport, as well as on selected flights to five U.S. destinations operated by Continental beyond New York/Newark (Cleveland, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Houston and Orlando).

"This agreement will offer Continental customers quicker and easier access to a dozen cities in Africa, as well as additional cities in Europe," said Jim Compton, Continental's Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. "We know that our customers will appreciate the increased travel options this partnership provides, as well as the high standards of service offered by Brussels Airlines."

"Thanks to this new partnership with Continental Airlines we can now offer our passengers a great travel solution to New York via the very convenient Newark airport and to several other important U.S. destinations currently lacking in our network offer," said Brussels Airlines' Executive Vice President Network and Strategy, Erik Follet.  "This is another example of the many new advantages our recent Star Alliance membership offers our clients."

Because both Continental and Brussels Airlines are members of Star Alliance, members of Continental's frequent flyer program, OnePass, and Brussels Airlines' frequent flyer program, Miles & More, are able to earn and redeem mileage anywhere on either airline's global route network.  Continental BusinessFirst passengers, OnePass Star Alliance Gold members and Presidents Club members travelling on a same-day Star Alliance member flight are able to access Brussels Airlines Lounges at the flight's departure city, while Brussels Airlines Business Class passengers and Miles & More Star Alliance Gold members are able to access Continental's Presidents Club lounges worldwide prior to departure on a same-day Star Alliance member flight.

Continental has been serving Brussels since 1999.  The airline's flights to New York/Newark are operated with 235-seat Boeing 767-400ER aircraft, carrying 35 passengers in the BusinessFirst cabin and 200 in economy.  Flight CO61 departs Brussels daily at 9:45 a.m., arriving at New York/Newark at 12:00 p.m. the same day.  The return flight, CO60, departs New York/Newark daily at 6:15 p.m., arriving in Brussels at 7:45 a.m. the following day (all times local).

About Continental Airlines

Continental Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,700 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 132 domestic and 137 international destinations. Continental is a member of Star Alliance, which overall offers more than 21,200 daily flights to 1,172 airports in 181 countries through its 28 member airlines. With more than 40,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with its regional partners, carries approximately 63 million passengers per year.

Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture. For nine consecutive years, FORTUNE magazine has ranked Continental as the top U.S. airline on its "World's Most Admired Companies" airline industry list.  For more company information go to www.continental.com.

About Brussels Airlines

Brussels Airlines is the Belgian airline that offers the widest choice of flights to and from its base in Brussels Airport. The group's 3000 employees and 50 aircraft operate some 300 punctual flights daily, connecting the Capital of Europe to some 70 premium European and African airports.

On its European routes, operated with AVRO, Airbus A319 and Boeing 737, Brussels Airlines offers the choice of a genuine business class product ("b.business"), a flexible travel formula offering timesaving and comfort ("b.flex economy+") and a low cost product ("b.light economy"). On medium- and long-haul flights, the airline operates traditional "Business" or "Economy" class. Long-haul flights to Africa are operated with Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

In addition to 29 destinations on the African continent, Brussels Airlines and its intercontinental partners also offer long-haul service to the United Arab Emirates, China, Thailand, India and North America.

Brussels Airlines is owned by SN Airholding and is backed up by more than 80 years of aviation experience in Belgium. In June 2009, the Lufthansa Group became a shareholder of the Belgian airline. Brussels Airlines joined the commercial alliance Star Alliance on 9th December 2009.

More information on www.brusselsairlines.com.

SOURCE Continental Airlines