Continental Gets Approval for Beijing Flight

    March 18, 2005
    Continental Airlines Inc., the nation's fifth biggest carrier, said Friday it will become the first U.S. carrier to begin daily nonstop flights to Beijing this summer.
    HOUSTON (AP) -- Continental Airlines Inc., the nation's fifth biggest carrier, said Friday it will become the first U.S. carrier to begin daily nonstop flights to Beijing this summer.

    The airline announced it has received final approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide the service to Beijing from Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J.

    The first flight will take off June 15, Continental said. Tickets will soon be available through its Web site and other distribution channels, the company said.

    The 13-hour flight will depart Newark at noon each day and arrive in Beijing at 1:50 p.m. the next day. The return flight would leave Beijing at 3:50 p.m. and arrive in Newark 13 hours and 25 minutes later. The flight will be operated by a Boeing 777-200ER with 283 seats.

    Continental shares fell 18 cents to close at $10.58 in Friday trading on the New York Stock Exchange, near the middle of their 52-week range of $7.63 to $14.19.