OT: Continental announces 787 service to AKL
May 27, 2010, 8:53 am
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OT: Continental announces 787 service to AKL
From airline route updates
Continental Airlines to launch Houston – Auckland from Nov 2011
Posted: 26 May 2010 10:50 AM PDT
Continental announced its plan to launch Houston – Auckland service with Boeing 787 aircraft, starting 16NOV11.
The airline is the First carrier worldwide to announced a route to be operated with the new Boeing 787 aircraft, in C36Y192 configuration.
Continental Airlines to launch Houston – Auckland from Nov 2011
Posted: 26 May 2010 10:50 AM PDT
Continental announced its plan to launch Houston – Auckland service with Boeing 787 aircraft, starting 16NOV11.
The airline is the First carrier worldwide to announced a route to be operated with the new Boeing 787 aircraft, in C36Y192 configuration.
May 27, 2010, 4:39 pm
#2
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Full release here:
https://www.continental.com/web/en-U...9D97B&i=PRNEWS
https://www.continental.com/web/en-U...9D97B&i=PRNEWS
Continental Airlines Announces New Service From Houston Hub to Auckland, New Zealand
First route worldwide to be announced for the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner
HOUSTON, May 26, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today announced another major step in development of its Houston hub with plans to begin nonstop Boeing 787 flights to Auckland, New Zealand on Nov. 16, 2011 (subject to government approval).
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100526/DA11117)
Auckland will be added to the 63 international destinations that Continental currently serves nonstop from Houston, and will become the 26th destination in Continental's Pacific network. Continental serves more destinations in the Pacific region than any other U.S. carrier.
Continental will be one of just three airlines flying nonstop between North America and New Zealand. At approximately 7,400 miles, the new route will be the longest from Continental's Houston hub. Continental plans to operate the route on a daily basis, with five-times-weekly service during certain periods in the first year of operation.
On May 3, Continental announced that it has agreed to merge with United Airlines in a merger of equals to create the world's leading airline. The success of the Houston-Auckland route will be enhanced by the additional traffic flows through Houston that are expected to result from the merger.
First 787 Route Announcement
Continental is the first airline in the world to formally announce specific, initial route plans for its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The airline has firm orders for 25 Dreamliners. The 787 is a new-technology composite aircraft with lower operating costs, better environmental performance and an improved cabin environment for customer comfort. Deliveries to Continental are expected to begin in August 2011. The aircraft will have 228 seats, including 36 of Continental's new flat-bed BusinessFirst seats for the best rest on long-distance flights.
Today Continental also unveiled a modernized and expanded customer check-in facility in Terminal C at its Houston hub at Bush Intercontinental Airport.
"Our new route to Auckland and our new and upgraded facilities at IAH are tangible examples of the emphasis we place on continuing to expand Houston's role in domestic and international aviation," said Jeff Smisek, Continental's chairman, president and CEO. "This hub has ongoing growth opportunities because it has a strategic location, space for expansion, support from the community and an excellent team of Continental co-workers who deliver our clean, safe and reliable service."
"This new flight between Houston and Auckland shows how the Dreamliner will create new opportunities to connect global markets that currently are not being served," said Mario Diaz, Houston Airport System director of aviation. "As the largest hub for Continental, George Bush Intercontinental Airport is honored to be selected as the launch pad for the Continental Boeing 787."
Convenient Connecting Flights
The Houston-Auckland route will benefit from connecting traffic at both ends. Continental's Houston hub will draw passengers from throughout North America. In addition, Houston will be a very competitive connecting hub for travelers on itineraries between Europe and Auckland.
Auckland is home to Air New Zealand, one of the 27 carriers including Continental which are members of Star Alliance. Air New Zealand and its regional airline partners offer service to 20 destinations in New Zealand and seven in Australia, including Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Coolangatta (Gold Coast), Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
Schedule
Following is the preliminary schedule for the new service, planned to take effect Nov. 16, 2011. Continental will begin taking reservations and selling tickets on the new route later this year.
First route worldwide to be announced for the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner
HOUSTON, May 26, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today announced another major step in development of its Houston hub with plans to begin nonstop Boeing 787 flights to Auckland, New Zealand on Nov. 16, 2011 (subject to government approval).
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100526/DA11117)
Auckland will be added to the 63 international destinations that Continental currently serves nonstop from Houston, and will become the 26th destination in Continental's Pacific network. Continental serves more destinations in the Pacific region than any other U.S. carrier.
Continental will be one of just three airlines flying nonstop between North America and New Zealand. At approximately 7,400 miles, the new route will be the longest from Continental's Houston hub. Continental plans to operate the route on a daily basis, with five-times-weekly service during certain periods in the first year of operation.
On May 3, Continental announced that it has agreed to merge with United Airlines in a merger of equals to create the world's leading airline. The success of the Houston-Auckland route will be enhanced by the additional traffic flows through Houston that are expected to result from the merger.
First 787 Route Announcement
Continental is the first airline in the world to formally announce specific, initial route plans for its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The airline has firm orders for 25 Dreamliners. The 787 is a new-technology composite aircraft with lower operating costs, better environmental performance and an improved cabin environment for customer comfort. Deliveries to Continental are expected to begin in August 2011. The aircraft will have 228 seats, including 36 of Continental's new flat-bed BusinessFirst seats for the best rest on long-distance flights.
Today Continental also unveiled a modernized and expanded customer check-in facility in Terminal C at its Houston hub at Bush Intercontinental Airport.
"Our new route to Auckland and our new and upgraded facilities at IAH are tangible examples of the emphasis we place on continuing to expand Houston's role in domestic and international aviation," said Jeff Smisek, Continental's chairman, president and CEO. "This hub has ongoing growth opportunities because it has a strategic location, space for expansion, support from the community and an excellent team of Continental co-workers who deliver our clean, safe and reliable service."
"This new flight between Houston and Auckland shows how the Dreamliner will create new opportunities to connect global markets that currently are not being served," said Mario Diaz, Houston Airport System director of aviation. "As the largest hub for Continental, George Bush Intercontinental Airport is honored to be selected as the launch pad for the Continental Boeing 787."
Convenient Connecting Flights
The Houston-Auckland route will benefit from connecting traffic at both ends. Continental's Houston hub will draw passengers from throughout North America. In addition, Houston will be a very competitive connecting hub for travelers on itineraries between Europe and Auckland.
Auckland is home to Air New Zealand, one of the 27 carriers including Continental which are members of Star Alliance. Air New Zealand and its regional airline partners offer service to 20 destinations in New Zealand and seven in Australia, including Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Coolangatta (Gold Coast), Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
Schedule
Following is the preliminary schedule for the new service, planned to take effect Nov. 16, 2011. Continental will begin taking reservations and selling tickets on the new route later this year.
Code:
Leave Leave
Houston Arrive Auckland Auckland Arrive Houston
Summer 9:30 p.m. 5:10 a.m. (2 days 3:40 p.m. 11:50 a.m. (same day)
later)
Winter 9:10 p.m. 6:55 a.m. (2 days 5:55 p.m. 11:55 a.m. (same day)
later)
May 27, 2010, 6:20 pm
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You know I can't help feeling NZ has missed a big opportunity here. Sure the 789's are late but could a 772ER not have reached IAH? Even a couple of times a week to get things started?
CO's timings look great for accessing connections all over the eastern USA which has been tough to do over LAX or SFO.
CO's timings look great for accessing connections all over the eastern USA which has been tough to do over LAX or SFO.
May 27, 2010, 6:31 pm
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I think NZ may have started this IF they had the 787-9 but here's hoping NZ will start a South American Destination once the 787's come at-least - would be good to see NZ expand its international network/
May 27, 2010, 7:32 pm
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May 27, 2010, 7:57 pm
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I can't see it being a bad thing having some good old fashioned *A competition to the US though.
So maybe there's an opportunity for NZ once the metal arrives.
May 27, 2010, 8:04 pm
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You know I can't help feeling NZ has missed a big opportunity here. Sure the 789's are late but could a 772ER not have reached IAH? Even a couple of times a week to get things started?
CO's timings look great for accessing connections all over the eastern USA which has been tough to do over LAX or SFO.
CO's timings look great for accessing connections all over the eastern USA which has been tough to do over LAX or SFO.
I doubt it. 10 hours would just be enough to do AKL-SYD-AKL and that route is covered by NZ quite nicely.
May 28, 2010, 5:27 am
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Good analysis here:
http://crankyflier.com/2010/05/27/co...-exciting-one/
Jun 2, 2010, 12:42 pm
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This is an interesting development. Presumably NZ will put their code on this flight (given recently announced codesharing agreements with CO) so not a totally lost opportunity?
Interestingly (for me, anyway, living in NYC and always interested in 1-stop options to NZ), AKL-IAH-NYC will be a considerably more direct routing than the current options via the West Coast, assuming that CO can resolve the ETOPS challenges on the route - for more on that, see the featured map on Great Circle Mapper. In an ideal world I'd rather be on NZ metal, but as US airlines go CO is definitely one of the better ones, and their lounges are genuinely habitable and come with free alcoholic drinks and wifi (let's hope they both survive the merger with UA, which currently offers neither).
Interestingly (for me, anyway, living in NYC and always interested in 1-stop options to NZ), AKL-IAH-NYC will be a considerably more direct routing than the current options via the West Coast, assuming that CO can resolve the ETOPS challenges on the route - for more on that, see the featured map on Great Circle Mapper. In an ideal world I'd rather be on NZ metal, but as US airlines go CO is definitely one of the better ones, and their lounges are genuinely habitable and come with free alcoholic drinks and wifi (let's hope they both survive the merger with UA, which currently offers neither).
Jun 2, 2010, 11:33 pm
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does anyone know if Air NZ have actually planned any specific destinations for the 787s? Maybe Christchurch will get back some long haul destinations!
Jun 2, 2010, 11:49 pm
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Jun 3, 2010, 11:25 am
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