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HOUSTON, Dec. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) today launched its latest expansion of service to Mexico, with new daily nonstop routes between Los Angeles International Airport and three Mexican destinations -- Aguascalientes, Guanajuato and Morelia -- and between Laredo, Texas, and Mexico City.

Tomorrow Continental will begin new four-times-weekly service between its hub at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and Huatulco, Mexico, the airline's 29th Mexican destination. Continental already serves more Mexican destinations nonstop from the U.S. than any other airline.

"We are pleased to continue our commitment to Mexico by offering these new nonstop flights, which facilitate business and vacation travel, as well as options for passengers visiting family and friends in Mexico," said Pete Garcia, Staff Vice President, Latin America, Continental Airlines.

Continental Express will utilize the 50-passenger Embraer regional jet on its nonstop service on each of the new routes.

The new daily nonstop Los Angeles-Mexico flights complement Continental's existing service to Aguascalientes, Guanajuato and Morelia from Houston, Texas.*

The new nonstop Continental Express flight from Laredo, Texas, on a 37-seat Embraer regional jet, complements Continental's existing service to Mexico City from Houston, Texas; New York/Newark; McAllen and San Antonio, Texas. Continental is the only airline offering daily nonstop service between Laredo and Mexico City.*

Continental begins its new nonstop service four times a week from Houston to Huatulco, Mexico, a resort area on the coast of Oaxaca, on Dec. 17. Continental Express will utilize a 50-seat Embraer regional jet on the flight, the only nonstop service from the United States to Huatulco.

Continental Airlines was named the "Best Airline for Flights to Mexico" in Executive Travel Magazine's Autumn 2004 list of "Best in Executive Travel." Continental has been named to Hispanic Magazine's list of "100 Best Companies for Hispanics" for seven consecutive years.

Continental Airlines is the world's sixth-largest airline with more than 3,000 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. Continental serves 151 domestic and 120 international destinations -- more than any other airline in the world -- and nearly 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines. With more than 41,000 employees, the airline has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and carries approximately 51 million passengers per year. In 2004, Continental has earned awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture. FORTUNE ranks Continental one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America, an honor it has earned for six consecutive years, and also ranks Continental as the top airline in its Most Admired Global Companies in 2004. The carrier won major awards at the 2004 OAG Airline of the Year Awards including "Airline of the Year," "Best Airline Based in North America" and "Best Executive/Business Class." For more company information, visit continental.com.

* On Jan. 4, 2005, the flights between Los Angeles and Aguascalientes,

Guanajuato and Morelia, Mexico change to five times per week. The

Laredo-Mexico City flight changes to a four-times-weekly schedule.

SOURCE  Continental Airlines
    -0-                             12/16/2004
    /CONTACT:  Corporate Communications of Continental Airlines,
+1-713-324-5080, or corpcomm@coair.com /
    /Web site:  http://www.continental.com
                http://www.continental.com/company/news /
    (CAL)

CO:  Continental Airlines; Los Angeles International Airport; George Bush
     Intercontinental Airport; Continental Express
ST:  Texas, California, Mexico
IN:  TRA LEI AIR
SU:  PDT HSP

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9227 12/16/2004 12:02 EST http://www.prnewswire.com