Continental Airlines
History
Continental Airlines was a major U.S. airline founded in 1934 and eventually headquartered in Houston, Texas. It had ownership interests and brand partnerships with several carriers.
Continental started out as one of the smaller carriers in the United States, known for its limited operations under the regulated era. Post-deregulation, Continental grew into one of the country's largest carriers despite facing financial troubles and other issues, eventually becoming one of the more prominent airlines in the United States.
Merger with United Airlines
In May 2010, the airline announced that it would merge with United Airlines in a deal valued at $3.2 billion. Upon the completion of this merger in October 2010, Continental's operations, website, and branding were gradually phased out and the merged airline took the United name.
Fleet
Continental had a fleet of 344 mainline jets that were in operation at the time of the merger with United Airlines. The fleet consisted of a mix of Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer aircraft. Continental was the first U.S. carrier to order the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and was one of the first to introduce Boeing 777 into regular service.
Destinations
Continental served 132 domestic and 137 international destinations, for a total of 269 airports, at the time of its merger with United. It was one of the few airlines that flew to all six inhabited continents.
Corporate affairs
Continental Airlines was headquartered at 1600 Smith Street in Downtown Houston. It also had a substantial presence in Downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The airline had a large workforce of approximately 42,000 employees at the time of its merger.