Continental starts daily Houston-Lagos non-stop flights

HOUSTON's Continental Airlines has announced plans to launch a daily nonstop flights between Houston and Lagos, Nigeria from November 10, subject to government approval.

Lagos will be Continental's first destination in Africa and its 30th transatlantic city. Lagos is the economic, commercial and cultural centre of Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa. Its 300 square kilometres also contains Nigeria's leading port and more than half of its industrial capacity.

With the addition of flights to Africa, Houston will become one of just four cities in the world - and the only city in the western hemisphere - to have nonstop service to every inhabited continent on the globe.

"This flight will link two energy capitals and fill the growing demand for nonstop service between the two cities - a route which is currently not served by any other airline," said Continental chairman and CEO Jeff Smisek.

"Houston stands to gain economically from this new direct connection to Africa, particularly in our energy and tourism industries," said Houston Mayor Annise Parker.

Continental will operate the 6,500-mile flight with a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft, seating 36 customers in BusinessFirst and 192 customers in economy class. Flying times will be 11 hours eastbound and 12 hours, 30 minutes westbound. The new flight will reduce travel time between the two cities by more than four hours by eliminating any connection en route.
(Source:www.schednet.com)