Continental Connection

Continental Express

Ceased operations	March 3, 2012 (merged with United Express)
Hubs	Cleveland Hopkins International Airport George Bush Intercontinental Airport Newark Liberty International Airport
Frequent-flyer program	OnePass
Alliance	SkyTeam (affiliate; 2004-2009) Star Alliance (affiliate; 2009-2012)
Fleet size	83
Headquarters	Houston, Texas
Website	http://www.continental.com/

Beechcraft 1900D

Bombardier Q200

Facing forward in the passenger cabin of a CommutAir Beechcraft 1900D displaying the integral and remote field operationally friendly, airstair built into the forward exit of this type of airplane

Continental Connection was a brand name under which several commuter airline carriers and their holding companies operated services marketed exclusively by Continental Airlines. As such, all Continental Connection banner carrier services were operated primarily with turboprop aircraft in contrast to Continental Express, whose flights were operated by Continental's regional jet partners, ExpressJet Airlines and Chautauqua Airlines.

According to the Official Airline Guide (OAG), earlier Continental Express flights, such as those operated by Royale Airlines followed by Britt Airways from the Continental hub at Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH), were operated with such turboprop aircraft as the ATR-42, Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante, Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia and Grumman Gulfstream I during the 1980s.^[1]

All flights operated by Continental Connection carriers were given full OnePass frequent flyer credit, as if they were mainline Continental flights.

The "Continental Connection" name was discontinued and the operation was renamed United Express following the merger of Continental Airlines with United Airlines.

Operators

CommutAir operated a sizeable hub at Albany, New York during the 2000s even though Continental Airlines did not have any mainline presence at the city.

GP Express Airlines of Grand Island, Nebraska also operated as a Continental Connection carrier at Denver and Kansas City from 1994 through 1996. Continental Airlines had discontinued its hub operation at Denver by this time. GP Express operated Beechcraft 1900C and Beechcraft 99 aircraft.

In addition, other commuter and regional air carriers operated turboprop aircraft as Continental Express including Air New Orleans with Beechcraft C99 and British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31 propjets primarily with connecting service into the New Orleans (MSY) airport and also to destinations in Florida. Another Continental Express carrier was Royale Airlines operating Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante and Grumman Gulfstream I turboprops with feeder service at Continental's Houston (IAH) hub.^[2] Royale also operated Douglas DC-9-10 jet aircraft as a Continental Express carrier.^[3] The Royale service in Houston was then replaced by Britt Airways operating as Continental Express and flying ATR-42 and Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turboprops.^[4]

Fleet

Incidents and accidents

• On February 12, 2009, Colgan Air Flight 3407 operating on behalf of Continental Connection crashed into a house on Long Road in Clarence Center, New York while on approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport; 50 people, including one on the ground, were killed according to New York State Police.^[5]
• On September 7, 2011, Colgan Air Flight 3222, with 23 passengers en route from Houston, TX to Lake Charles, LA landed at Southland Field, which was not their scheduled destination. The crew was subsequently relieved of duty.^[6]

References