United Airlines Applies to U.S. DOT for Authority to Operate Los Angeles-Shanghai Service

CHICAGO, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United Airlines today filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation for authority to begin daily nonstop service between the airline's Los Angeles hub and Shanghai, starting May 20, 2011. In addition, Continental Airlines applied for authority to place its CO* code on United-operated flights between the two cities.

With more than 200 daily departures from Los Angeles International Airport, United would offer convenient connections to customers throughout North America.

The proposed flights from Los Angeles will depart at 1:33 p.m. and arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 5:55 p.m. the next day. Service from Shanghai, beginning May 21, 2011, will depart at 7:50 p.m. and arrive in Los Angeles at 4:47 p.m. the same day.  The new service is consistent with the airline's previously announced capacity guidance.

United intends to operate the service with three-cabin Boeing 777 aircraft, which offer customers service in United First ®, United Business ® and United Economy ®.

United currently serves Shanghai daily from Chicago and San Francisco. Continental serves Shanghai daily from New York/Newark.

About United Continental Holdings, Inc.

United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) is the holding company for both United Airlines and Continental Airlines. Together with United Express, Continental Express and Continental Connection, these airlines operate a total of approximately 5,800 flights a day to 371 airports throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa from their hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark Liberty, San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. United and Continental are members of Star Alliance, which offers more than 21,200 daily flights to 1,172 airports in 181 countries worldwide through its 28 member airlines. United's and Continental's more than 80,000 employees reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. For more information about United Continental Holdings, Inc., go to www.unitedcontinentalholdings.com. For more information about the airlines, see www.united.com and www.continental.com, and follow each company on Twitter and Facebook.

SOURCE United Continental Holdings, Inc.