United Continental Holdings

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Free cars part of culture shift at merged United

United Airlines workers with perfect attendance for six months may be eligible to win a free car under a new employee perk that takes effect Jan. 1.

The morale-boosting effort is one of the first public campaigns by parent United Continental Holdings Inc. to stamp Continental Airlines’ culture on its larger merger partner. During the past decade, Continental has given away more than 180 vehicles to its employees. Get the full story »

United Continental November traffic up 4.8%

United Continental Holdings Inc. said the combined traffic of both United and Continental airlines rose 4.8 percent in November.

The airlines, which are still operating as separate companies, said late Tuesday they flew paying passengers 16.15 billion miles last month, compared with 15.4 billion miles a year earlier. Get the full story »

United postpones first 787 service

With another delay to Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner looming, United Airlines has postponed launching service from Houston to Auckland, New Zealand, the first North American flight slated to feature the ground-breaking jet

The new United had planned to launch those flights on Nov. 16, 2011, to be flown initially under the brand of merger partner Continental Airlines, said Julie King, spokeswoman for the Chicago-based carrier. But with uncertainty shrouding the 787’s commercial debut, the world’s largest airline decided to push back its New Zealand expansion effort to 2012. Get the full story »

Continental Airlines in deal with Teamsters

Continental Airlines said Monday that it reached a labor contract with negotiators for about 7,000 union employees.

The fleet-service employees, represented by the Teamsters union, will hold a ratification vote in the coming weeks.

Terms were not disclosed. Get the full story »

Zagat: Continental’s premium-class service is No. 1

Premium-class service on Continental Airlines was ranked No. 1 for the third year in a row by frequent fliers surveyed by Zagat.com.

The airline is part of Chicago-based United Continental Holdings Inc. since its Oct. 1 merger with United Airlines.

Runners-up on premium-class service among major airlines were American, Delta, United and AirTran, in that order. Get the full story »

United considers ‘tulip’ livery for anniversary 757

United Airlines ignored frequent-flier pleas to “save the tulip” this summer as it rolled out a new brand and paint scheme. But the Saul Bass-designed U could live on, at least on one of United’s Boeing 757 jets.

To celebrate its 85th anniversary, United plans to repaint one of its jets in a classic  scheme, known as the livery in the airline business. Among the options: The “tulip,” paired with 1970s-style orange, red and blue stripes, a look that adorned United’s jets through the 1990s. Get the full story »

Tilton expects U.S. airlines to earn $4B in 2010

U.S. airlines are projected to post $4 billion in profits for 2010, the chairman of the newly formed United Continental Holdings said Wednesday.

Speaking to an industry group in Washington, D.C., Glenn Tilton said the United Continental balance sheet needs a ”tremendous amount of deleveraging” and that it may be time to focus on making balance sheets more resilient.

The carrier has about $9 billion in cash. Get the full story »

Continental adds new Chicago-Florida flights

Just in time for spring break, Continental Airlines is launching service from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

Merger partner United Airlines had pulled out of those markets in 2008, as part of a broader plan to ground its Boeing 737 fleet, leaving Southwest Airlines with the lion’s share of flights between Chicago and Florida’s east coast resorts. Get the full story »

Continental moving to United’s O’Hare terminal next week

Just in time for the busy Thanksgiving travel season, Continental Airlines is moving its ticketing and check-in counters to the neighboring terminal operated by corporate sibling United Airlines at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

Effective Tuesday, Nov. 16, Continental passengers will check in at Continental-branded counters in O’Hare’s Terminal 1, rather than Terminal 2, where the Houston-based carrier had been located.

The move is one of the first changes visible to travelers as the two carriers begin to combine operations following the Oct. 1 close of their merger, which created the world’s largest airline. Both carriers are wholly owned subsidiaries of United Continental Holdings Inc., their Chicago-based corporate parent. Get the full story »

United unveils its Oprah plane

United Airline's plane painted for Oprah Winfrey's final season. (United Airlines)

Look up in the sky. It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s Oprah. Actually, it’s a plane sporting Oprah Winfrey’s logo with the familiar big looping “O.”

On Thursday, United Airlines unveiled a newly painted plane at O’Hare International Airport commemorating the 25th and final season of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” The Boeing 757’s tail is blue with Winfrey’s signature, with the words “The Farewell Season” painted on the fuselage. Get the full story »

Increase seen in Thanksgiving air traffic, fares

The U.S. Thanksgiving holiday will see more airline passengers, higher fares and packed planes this year as a stronger economy stokes travel demand.

The number of travelers is seen up 3.5 percent from a year ago, according to the Air Transport Association, an airline industry trade group. Get the full story »

Continental flight attendants reject labor deal

Flight attendants for Continental Airlines have rejected a proposed contract. Their union says it’s because the agreement did not give them back enough of the concessions they made in earlier contracts. Get the full story »

UAL, Continental post quarterly profits

Buoyed by a global rebound in travel, United and Continental airlines flew into the black during their last quarter as independent carriers.

United Continental Holdings Inc., the parent company created by the airlines’ Oct. 1 merger, reported that United’s net income soared to $473 million or $2.12 per share, excluding fuel and merger-related charges during the third quarter. That’s a $533 million improvement from 2009 results. Get the full story »

United wins approval to launch Shanghai flights

United Airlines said Wednesday it had gained federal approval to begin daily flights from Los Angeles to Shanghai in little more time than it takes to fly between the two cities.

The speedy review of United’s request, completed a day after the Chicago carrier asked for permission to launch the new China service next year, is in contrast to the lengthy lobbying battles over access to China’s booming market that played out during the 1990s and in the 2000s.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Transportation had needed just six days to approve a request by American Airlines to fly from Los Angeles to Shanghai. Get the full story »

United seeks to launch new Shanghai service

Like rival American Airlines, United Airlines wants to expand its reach into China and has asked federal officials for permission to begin daily flights from Los Angeles to Shanghai starting in May 2011.

The new service would expand United’s reach in Asia’s booming air travel market, which has rebounded from the recent global recession faster than the U.S. and Europe.

Chicago-based United also seeks to take advantage of additional flights between the U.S. and China that will become available in 2011 under a recent trade agreement that loosened the tightly regulated market for air travel between the two countries. Get the full story »