cool.

The word from the big boys from the 'do was no way they were doing EZE, I guess they were full of it.

http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf91/326717_web.pdf

That was almost a month ago. I am sure if we ask them about it, they would say "well when you asked us there was no way we were going to launch IAH - EZE, but now that market conditions have changed we can look at the possibility"

I'm just glad Continental is adding such routes...

-Vincent

Yet another downgrade to Europe? Where oh where does my 767 come from ?

Continental Airlines Applies for Nonstop Flights Between Houston and Buenos Aires, Argentina
Proposed Flight to Provide Convenient Through Service to New York

HOUSTON, April 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) announced today that it has submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for approval to operate daily nonstop flights from its Houston hub at Bush Intercontinental Airport to Buenos Aires, Argentina. If approved, Continental will introduce the service in November 2005 utilizing a Boeing 767-200, carrying 25 BusinessFirst and 149 economy customers.

The new Houston-Buenos Aires flight will be timed to provide convenient through service to Continental's New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and online connecting service between Buenos Aires and numerous points throughout the U.S., Europe and Latin America.

Continental, the only U.S. carrier that will offer daily nonstop service between Houston and Argentina, has been working hard to develop a comprehensive U.S.-Latin America network. With the addition of Buenos Aires, Continental will offer nonstop service to 68 destinations in 25 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Continental Airlines is the world's sixth-largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 3,000 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 150 domestic and 130 international destinations, more than any other carrier in the world. Nearly 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines, which include Aeromexico, Air France/KLM, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines. With 41,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries approximately 56 million passengers per year. Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture.

For the second consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 Most Admired Global Airline on its 2005 list of Most Admired Global Companies. Continental was also included in the publication's annual "Top 50" list, which ranks all companies, across a wide variety of industries, that appear in the Global Most Admired Companies issue. Continental won major awards at the 2004 OAG Airline of the Year Awards including "Airline of the Year," "Best Airline Based in North America" and "Best Executive/Business Class."

SOURCE Continental Airlines
-0- 04/26/2005
/CONTACT: Corporate Communications of Continental Airlines,
+1-713-324-5080, or [email protected] /
/Web site: http://www.continental.com
http://continental.com/company/news /
(CAL)

CO: Continental Airlines; U.S. Department of Transportation; Bush
Intercontinental Airport; Newark Liberty International Airport
ST: Texas, Argentina, New York
IN: AIR TRA LEI
SU:

CJ-AP
-- DATU091 --
6428 04/26/2005 12:20 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com

A few years ago CO won approval to fly to EZE, but then backed out when the Argentian economy collapsed. Then the issue of the already approved slot was in question.

Apparently now CO has to now reapply for that approval.

LOS???

Did they actually even have one for LOS? I am guessing GVA or ZRH if they are in range of the 752W. Perhaps even expand frequency to CDG or AMS by dropping the 762 in favor of two 752s.

Or maybe add (or move from LGW) 752 service from CLE to AMS.

Then again, one also has to consider the 777s that need to be pulled for China, so it will be an interesting puzzle.

Very insightful MBM3. Another peice is that there are only so many 757s (41) and the more they pull from the North America market, the more the effects ripple throughout the domestic & Canadian system.

I am sure they can further pull more utlization out of thier current wide body fleet, if not I am sure some route across the pong will go to twice daily 757s rather than the 767...

SNAPS for Continental ... ^ ^

-Vincent

And let's not forget the ongoing wingletization of the 738 AND 73Gs that are still affecting rumors of UK/Ireland 737 service from the east coast.

is it likely that this application will be approved? i don't know much about the process. this would seemingly provide competition for DL ATL-EZE, bringing down prices... maybe i ought to wait on my award reservations on DL PDX-EZE.

When all is said and done, I think 27 752s will get the winglets, and it's safe to assume all will be in the International configuration. I believe CO would have all of the 757s scheduled into the North Atlantic market before we ever see a 737 going across the pond.

Don't forget, a 737, like the 757, would require significant modification (not talking about ETOPS, most CO 737NGs came with this certification out-of-the-box) for transatlantic operations, most importantly a reconfiguring of seats to include a BusinessFirst section. The issue with this is that a critical mass of overall seats would be lost to sustain what definitely would be a very high breakeven load factor, leaving such a small margin for profitability that a 757 on the route would make much more sense as it affords more "breathing room". Additionally, the 737 would offer minimal space for cargo, which is often the difference between profit and loss on long haul segments.

In my mind, the only sustainable way to operate a 737 transatlantic is in a single-class arrangement, either a premium offering like PrivatAir or an all-coach product. The aircraft simply does not have enough floor space to make two traditional long-haul classes work economically. The aircraft was not designed with transatlantic performance in mind, and operations on the extreme high end of the 737's envelope would not come without penalty. These flights fall far better into the realm of the 757, and this is why we see the aircraft perform so well for CO in this market.

I really think CO has something working in the background - somekind of arrangement to get jets from another airline or take over international routes of say DL.

Maybe CO will become the international airline, and DL become the LCC.

They are getting a bunch of ATA's 753s later in 2005. I believe 8 is the number.

It would also provide more competition for AA DFW-EZE as well. Also didn't AA get the DFW-EZE approval when CO decided not to do the IAH-EZE several years ago?

The 753s do not have the range for international. They can only replace domestic 752's, but if you need more 777's for China, and more 767's for South America and Europe - DL has those.