Continental transfers Gatwick flights to Heathrow

[December 29th 2008]

Continental Airlines has decided to move its flights to Cleveland from Gatwick airport to Heathrow.

The daily non-stop flights from Heathrow to Cleveland will start on May 2, and run until September 26, replacing the current seasonal service between Gatwick airport and Cleveland.

Flights to Cleveland will leave Heathrow at 11.40am and arrive in Cleveland at 3.30pm local time. From Cleveland flights will depart at 8.25pm and arrive at Heathrow at 9.15am the following morning.

"Our Cleveland customers have told us they want non-stop service to Heathrow, the most important business airport in Europe, and we are delighted to be able to meet the City's needs. We are investing in this service because of its potential," explains Continental chairman and CEO, Larry Kellner.

The Mayor of Cleveland, Frank Jackson, is also backing the new flights to Heathrow. "We have long believed that non-stop service to Heathrow is something Cleveland needs and that it will be a boost to our business development efforts. I am optimistic that the region's business community will support this improved service to London in a way that will warrant Continental's consideration of extending the service year-round in the future,” he comments.

The new flights from Heathrow to Cleveland will be operated by a Boeing 757 aircraft, with 16 passengers in Continental’s award–winning BusinessFirst cabin and 159 passengers in economy class.

Continental says it will continue to operate two daily flights from Heathrow to its Houston hub at Bush Intercontinental Airport as well as three daily flights from Heathrow to its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The airline offers flights from several UK airports to Newark Liberty, including Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester and claims to offer transatlantic services from more cities in the UK and Ireland than any other airline.

Continental has also announced that it will end its seasonal service from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport to Cleveland “due to economic challenges”. Flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle to both the airline’s New York hubs and Houston will continue.

Written by: Nick Purdom

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