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'Continental Express' is the operating name of the regional airlines providing jet feeder service for Continental Airlines. Currently, ExpressJet Airlines and Republic Airways Holdings carrier Chautauqua Airlines operate under this name. With service to approximately 150 destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, ExpressJet and Chautauqua operate all of Continental’s small jet service from its hubs in Houston, Newark and Cleveland, with additional non-hub service.
ExpressJet operates a fleet of 274 Embraer-145 and -135 aircraft. ExpressJet in its previous existence as Continental Express flew turbo-prop aircraft such as the EMB-120 Brasilia, ATR-42/72 and Beech 1900, but Continental Airlines now contracts with other airlines such as CommutAir, Gulfstream International, and Colgan Air to operate prop aircraft as Continental Connection on short-haul routes.
Continental Express airlines share the Continental hubs: Cleveland, Ohio's Hopkins International Airport, Houston, Texas's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Newark, New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport.
In the past, other airlines, such as Trans Colorado Airlines had used the Continental Express name. Trans Colorado Airlines operated in the 1970's and 80's, when Continental had hub operations in Stapleton Airport in Denver, Colorado. Continental did not move their hub to the new Denver International Airport due to high landing fees.

Contents

Incidents and accidents

Destinations

Fleet

References

External links

Incidents and accidents

★ Continental Express Flight 2574 was a scheduled domestic passenger airline flight from Laredo International Airport in Laredo, Texas to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas. On September 11, 1991, the Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia, crashed as it was approaching the runway for landing, killing all 14 people on board. An investigation by the NTSB found that an improperly maintained horizontal stabilizer failed during approach, causing a severe nose-down pitchover and breakup of the plane. ^[1]

★ In June 2007, an incident on a Continental Express flight led to a passenger and her 19 month-old son being removed from the plane at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. ^[2] According to eyewitness accounts, Kate Penland and her son Garren were ordered off the flight from Atlanta to Oklahoma City by a flight attendant who felt the child was talking too much during takeoff preparations. The flight attendant then suggested that the mother sedate the child. During an interview with Atlanta's WSB-TV, Penland said when other passengers began speaking up on her behalf, the flight attendant "got angrier and soon announced they were turning around and that she and her son were to be removed from the plane". ^[3] The reason allegedly given to the captain by the flight attendant was that Ms. Penland had threatened the attendant - a claim Ms. Penland denied and also refuted by one of the other passengers. Houston police responding to a report of a disturbance on the plane investigated the incident, which resulted in no charges filed and no arrest made. Kristy Nicholas, a spokesperson for ExpressJet, stated that the airline has received a complaint from Ms. Penland about the incident and is investigating.

Destinations

Main articles: Continental Express destinations

Fleet

ExpressJet Holdings announced on Dec. 28, 2005 that they received notice from Continental Airlines of its intention to reduce by 69 the number of aircraft ExpressJet will operate for Continental under the companies' capacity purchase agreement. Per the agreement, ExpressJet could return the aircraft to Continental, or lease them from Continental at a higher rate and operate as a regional feeder for another airline.
As announced by Continental, the withdrawal of aircraft from the agreement was expected to begin in January 2007 and be completed during summer 2007. Simultaneously, Continental announced its intention to request proposals from other regional carriers to lease and operate the returned aircraft, beginning in January 2007. Continental announced in April 2006 that Chautauqua Airlines had been awarded a contract to operate the 69 aircraft owned by Continental.
ExpressJet later announced their intention to maintain operating the 69 aircraft independently, at increased lease rates. As such, Continental's announced contract with Chautauqua has been voided.
In July 2006, Continental Airlines announced a new contract, in which Chautauqua Airlines will provide and operate regional jets as a Continental Express carrier. ^[4] Therefore, as of 2007, Continental Express will consist of 205 aircraft operated by Expressjet Airlines, and 44 aircraft operated by Chautauqua. 20 of these aircraft will come from Chautauqua's US Airways Express operation, with the remaining 24 to be Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft obtained on lease.

★ Embraer ERJ 135

★ Embraer ERJ 145

References

1. ASN Aircraft accident description Embraer 120RT Brasilia N33701 - Eagle Lake, TX
2. Talking toddler and mother removed from flight in Houston
3. Flight Attendant Boots Gwinnett Mom, Baby From Plane
4. Continental picks Chautauqua for regional jets

External links

★ ExpressJet Airlines

★ Continental Airlines