Continental Airlines and Spanair to Start Codeshare Flights

CHICAGO and BARCELONA, Spain, Dec. 20, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Continental Airlines and Spanair, both members of Star Alliance, today announced they will begin codesharing on flights across the Atlantic and to destinations in Spain and Africa.

Effective Jan. 4, 2011, Continental will place its "CO" code on selected Spanair-operated flights between Barcelona and the following destinations: Alicante, Bilbao, Madrid, Malaga, Menorca, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia, Spain; and Banjul, Gambia.  The airline will also place its "CO" code on selected Spanair-operated flights between Madrid and the following destinations in Spain: Alicante, Barcelona, Bilbao, Ibiza, La Coruna, Las Palmas, Menorca, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife and Valencia.  Subject to government approval, Continental will also place its "CO" code on Spanair-operated flights between Barcelona and Nador, Morocco.

At the same time, Spanair will place its "JK" code on Continental-operated daily non-stop flights between New York/Newark and both Barcelona and Madrid.

"This agreement with Spanair will enable Continental customers to get to many destinations quicker and more easily than ever before," said Jim Compton, executive vice president and chief revenue officer of United Continental Holdings, Inc. "We are excited about this latest partnership with a fellow Star Alliance member."

"Our cooperation with Continental Airlines reinforces our strategy to connect Spain to the world," said Jim Paton, director strategic planning at Spanair S.A. "By adding New York to our map, we are looking forward to jointly offering our customers new direct services to North America."

Because both Continental and Spanair are members of Star Alliance, members of Continental's frequent-flier program, OnePass, and Spanair's frequent-flier program, Spanair Plus, are able to earn and redeem mileage anywhere on either airline's global route network. Continental BusinessFirst passengers, OnePass Platinum and Gold Elite members and Presidents Club members traveling on a same-day Star Alliance member flight are able to access Spanair Lounges at the flight's departure city, while Spanair Business Class passengers and Spanair Plus Gold members are able to access Continental's Presidents Club lounges worldwide prior to departure on a same-day Star Alliance member flight.

About Continental Airlines

Continental Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL). Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,400 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 142 domestic and 131 international destinations. Continental is a member of Star Alliance, which overall offers 21,000 daily flights to 1,160 airports in 181 countries.  Continental has hubs serving Cleveland, Guam, Houston and New York/Newark Liberty, and together with its regional partners, carries approximately 63 million passengers per year.  

United Continental Holdings, Inc. became the holding company for both United and Continental upon close of the merger transaction. The two airlines will operate separately as they begin to integrate key customer services, marketing activities and airport processes.  For more company information, go to continental.com and follow on Twitter and Facebook.

About Spanair

Spanair was founded in December 1986. Since April 2003 it has been a member of Star Alliance, the world's biggest and most prestigious global airline network. Spanair is the leading full service airline operating from its Barcelona hub, and the second largest in Spain, with a fleet of 35 aircraft.

SOURCE United Continental Holdings, Inc.