p***@houston-pr.com
2007-03-16 18:53:24 UTC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2007 - Houston, TX
Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) has made the controversial decision
today to never fly in rain. In it's first action supporting the
change, they decided to cancel all flights departing from their
Newark, NJ hub.
"It was an easy decision actually," states CEO Thomas J. Barrack Jr.
"I woke up this morning and poked my head out the window. It just
looked so gloomy out. I figured if I didn't want to go in, I bet none
of my employees wanted to either."
The move is not a new one. Jet Blue pioneered the art of making their
customers furious in an actual snow storm in February. But the idea of
not flying in rain adds a new twist to the travel industry.
Pilot Jack Daniels commented, "I use the umbrella technique to
facilitate my preflight. If I need to use an umbrella, I don't fly."
The decision has not gone unnoticed by customers. Marissa Belle, a 67
year old resident of Elizabeth, NJ states, "I wanted to travel to
Houston to see my grandkids one last time before the cancer takes me.
I guess I should have purchased a refundable ticket or used another
airline"
The one company looking to take advantage of the opportunity created
by Continental Airlines is Air Canada. Says Bob Evans, Marketing
Director for Air Canada, "We are no strangers to snow and sleet, so
for us, rain is a picnic, eh."
The current storm affecting the Northeast is expected to end late
Saturday evening according to NOAA forecasters. Taking into account
the time for planes to dry off and puddles to dry, the airline is
expected to fly again Wednesday.
Physical Address:
1600 Smith Street
Houston, TX 77002
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 4607
Houston, TX 77210
Telephone:
713.324.5000 (Main Switchboard)
713.324.5152 (Investor Relations)
Email:
***@coair.com (Investor Relations*)
***@coair.com (All other matters)
March 16, 2007 - Houston, TX
Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) has made the controversial decision
today to never fly in rain. In it's first action supporting the
change, they decided to cancel all flights departing from their
Newark, NJ hub.
"It was an easy decision actually," states CEO Thomas J. Barrack Jr.
"I woke up this morning and poked my head out the window. It just
looked so gloomy out. I figured if I didn't want to go in, I bet none
of my employees wanted to either."
The move is not a new one. Jet Blue pioneered the art of making their
customers furious in an actual snow storm in February. But the idea of
not flying in rain adds a new twist to the travel industry.
Pilot Jack Daniels commented, "I use the umbrella technique to
facilitate my preflight. If I need to use an umbrella, I don't fly."
The decision has not gone unnoticed by customers. Marissa Belle, a 67
year old resident of Elizabeth, NJ states, "I wanted to travel to
Houston to see my grandkids one last time before the cancer takes me.
I guess I should have purchased a refundable ticket or used another
airline"
The one company looking to take advantage of the opportunity created
by Continental Airlines is Air Canada. Says Bob Evans, Marketing
Director for Air Canada, "We are no strangers to snow and sleet, so
for us, rain is a picnic, eh."
The current storm affecting the Northeast is expected to end late
Saturday evening according to NOAA forecasters. Taking into account
the time for planes to dry off and puddles to dry, the airline is
expected to fly again Wednesday.
Physical Address:
1600 Smith Street
Houston, TX 77002
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 4607
Houston, TX 77210
Telephone:
713.324.5000 (Main Switchboard)
713.324.5152 (Investor Relations)
Email:
***@coair.com (Investor Relations*)
***@coair.com (All other matters)