News

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES CELEBRATES FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

Published: 27 May 2010

Half a million people have flown on the route

Continental Airlines today celebrated the fifth anniversary of its service between Belfast International Airport and its New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport. The airline has carried 500,000 people on the route since its inception and Tourism Ireland estimates that the trans-Atlantic link has contributed at least £50 million to Northern Ireland's tourism economy. Invest NI says the route has also made a huge impact on the wider business economy by enabling local businesses to connect directly to the North American marketplace while allowing potential investors to visit Northern Ireland quickly and conveniently.

In recognition of the route's success, Invest NI's Managing Director of
Corporate Services, Mel Chittock joined Continental's Jim Summerford, Vice President - Europe, Middle East & India, and Bob Schumacher, Senior Director - UK & Ireland, and Belfast International Airport Managing Director John Doran at a reception at the airport this morning.

To celebrate the occasion, Continental also upgraded two passengers on its anniversary flight to New York this morning. They were given VIP treatment in Continental's multi-award-winning BusinessFirst service and a chance to unwind in the airline's new, flat bed BusinessFirst seat, which reclines 180 degrees and is one of the widest business-class seats in the air.

Continental's Jim Summerford said: "The Belfast-New York service has been a remarkable success, with over half a million passengers using the service in the last five years. As the only trans-Atlantic carrier serving Belfast, Continental has been able to give people a convenient way of flying direct to and from America without having to travel via Dublin or Heathrow. Northern Ireland and the US enjoy strong social ties and business links and we're delighted to have helped support and develop these relationships with our nonstop flights."

John Doran, Managing Director of Belfast International Airport, commented: "We are delighted to be celebrating with Continental Airlines today and are rightly proud of the tremendous success of the route.  The New York service has not only made an enormous contribution to the Northern Ireland tourism economy but it has also strengthened business links between Northern Ireland and the United States of America.  We will continue to work closely with Continental to grow and develop this route to the benefit of the entire region."

Welcoming the anniversary, Alastair Hamilton, Chief Executive of Invest Northern Ireland, said: "Invest NI congratulates Continental on its successful fifth anniversary of providing a direct link between Belfast and New York. Invest NI, through the Air Route Development Fund, was instrumental in attracting Continental to Northern Ireland establishing the first, and only, direct route to New York. This direct connection has played an important part in allowing potential investors to visit Northern Ireland and has also opened the North American market to many of our local companies in a much more efficient and cost effective manner. As such, the route is clearly delivering real benefits to our economy and will continue to play an important part in our future plans."

Representatives of companies involved in Northern Ireland-US trade explained the importance of the service to their businesses.

Tony McManus, Global Head of Enterprise Software at NYSE Technologies, commented: "Continental's Belfast to New York direct flight path facilitates NYSE Technologies' Belfast office to serve our North American customer base with our world-leading financial software and data solutions. The direct route between our Belfast office and our New York headquarters, which enables colleagues from both sides of the pond to connect, is a key factor in our operational success and presence in Northern Ireland."

Alan Armstrong, Chief Executive Officer, Almac Group, said: "The direct transatlantic link has supported Almac's expansion and growth over the last five years. The United States remains at the forefront of the world's knowledge-rich industries including Biotech and Pharma and if Northern Ireland is to compete globally we must have access to these markets.

"We know from our contact with clients the value they place on direct scheduled flights into Northern Ireland. We are expanding our operations both in Northern Ireland and in the United States with our new North American Headquarters opening later this year. The link has given us the confidence to continue this parallel growth and we at Almac regard it as a vital piece of the region's economic infrastructure."

Continental launched its Belfast-New York service on May 27, 2005 (westbound) and operates a daily service on the route using 175-seat Boeing 757 aircraft, carrying 16 passengers in the BusinessFirst cabin and 159 in Economy.  The airline is currently installing new, flat bed BusinessFirst seats in these aircraft. The new seat, reclining 180 degrees and providing 6 feet 4 inches of sleeping space in the fully extended position, is one of the widest business-class seats in the air, measuring up to 25 inches when the adjustable armrest is positioned flush with the seat cushion.

The Belfast service is conveniently timed to connect at New York/Newark with an extensive network of service throughout the U.S.A., Canada and Latin America. Continental operates the largest major-airline hub in the New York City metropolitan area - Newark Liberty International Airport - offering flights to more than 200 destinations throughout the Americas, including more than 100 served non-stop. Located just 16 miles from downtown Manhattan, the airport offers the fastest surface transfer journeys to many parts of the city, including the AirTrain service to New York Penn Station in midtown Manhattan.