HOUSTON, Texas – “We are excited to grow our international route network from the New York area by adding nonstop service to Cairo,” said Jeff Smisek, Continental’s chairman, president, and CEO. “Continental’s new route will provide numerous opportunities for connections to dozens of destinations in Africa and the Middle East that are served by our Star Alliance partners.”
Continental Airlines announced its plans today to launch nonstop flights between Newark Liberty and Cairo, Egypt, beginning May 18, 2011, subject to government approval.
Cairo, the largest city in Africa and the Middle East, will be the 72nd international destination that Continental serves from its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and the 30th city in Continental’s trans-Atlantic route network.
Cairo is the third new international destination Continental has announced since May — the airline plans to begin daily service from its Houston hub to Lagos, Nigeria, beginning November 10, 2011, and service to Auckland, New Zealand, beginning November 16, 2011, subject to government approval.
On May 3, Continental announced that it has agreed to merge with United Airlines in a merger of equals to create the world’s leading airline. The success of the Newark-Cairo route will be enhanced by the additional traffic flows through Newark that are expected to result from the merger.
The Newark-Cairo route will benefit from connecting traffic at both ends. Cairo is home to Egyptair, one of the 28 carriers, including Continental, that are members of Star Alliance. Egyptair and its regional airline partners offer service to 41 destinations in Egypt, Africa, and the Middle East, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Damascus, Istanbul, Aswan, Jeddah, and Johannesburg.
The flight will be timed to provide convenient North American connections at Continental’s Newark Liberty hub to the West Coast as well as to 87 other cities throughout the US, Canada, and Latin America.
Continental will operate the approximately 5,600-mile flight with a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, seating 50 customers in BusinessFirst with flat-bed seats and 226 customers in economy class. Flying time eastbound will be approximately 10 hours, 25 minutes, and westbound will be approximately 12 hours, 10 minutes.
Continental plans to operate the route on a daily basis during peak summer travel season, with five- and four-times-weekly service during certain periods in the first year of operation. Following is the preliminary schedule for the new service, planned to take effect May 18, 2011:
SUMMER:
Depart Newark at 5:30 pm, arrive Cairo at 10:55 am, next day
Depart Cairo at 12:55 pm, arrive Newark at 6:05 pm, same day
WINTER:
Depart Newark at 5:30 pm, arrive Cairo at 10:50 am, next day
Depart Cairo at 12:50 pm, arrive Newark at 6:15 pm, same day
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- Cairo, the largest city in Africa and the Middle East, will be the 72nd international destination that Continental serves from its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and the 30th city in Continental's trans-Atlantic route network.
- Cairo is the third new international destination Continental has announced since May — the airline plans to begin daily service from its Houston hub to Lagos, Nigeria, beginning November 10, 2011, and service to Auckland, New Zealand, beginning November 16, 2011, subject to government approval.
- The flight will be timed to provide convenient North American connections at Continental's Newark Liberty hub to the West Coast as well as to 87 other cities throughout the US, Canada, and Latin America.
