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Founded | 1986 | ||||||
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Ceased operations | March 3, 2012 (merged into United Express) | ||||||
Hubs | |||||||
Frequent-flyer program | OnePass | ||||||
Alliance |
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Parent company |
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Headquarters | Houston, Texas, U.S. |
Continental Connection was the brand name under which several commuter airline carriers and their holding companies operated services marketed exclusively by Continental Airlines. As such, all Continental Connection banner carrier services were operated primarily with turboprop aircraft in contrast to Continental Express, whose flights were operated by Continental's regional jet partners, ExpressJet and Chautauqua Airlines. Continental Connection operations were merged into Continental Express in 2012.
According to the Official Airline Guide, earlier Continental Express flights, such as those operated by Royale Airlines followed by Britt Airways from the Continental hub at Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH), were operated with such turboprop aircraft as the ATR 42, Embraer EMB 110, Embraer EMB 120, and Grumman Gulfstream I during the 1980s.[1]
All flights operated by Continental Connection carriers were given full OnePass frequent-flyer credit, as if they were mainline Continental flights.
The "Continental Connection" name was discontinued and the operation was renamed United Express following the merger of Continental Airlines with United Airlines.
Operators and fleet
[edit]-
Beechcraft 1900D interior
Airline | IATA Service | ICAO Code | Callsign | Aircraft | In fleet | Passengers | Parent |
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Cape Air | 9K | KAP | Cair | ATR 42 | 2 | 46 | Hyannis Air Service, Inc. |
Colgan Air | 9L | CJC | Colgan | Bombardier Q400 | 16 | 74 | Pinnacle Airlines Corp. |
Saab 340 | 11 | 34 | |||||
CommutAir | C5 | UCA | CommutAir | Bombardier Q200 | 16 | 37 | Champlain Enterprises, Inc. |
Silver Airways | 3M | SIL | Silver Wings | Beechcraft 1900D | 21 | 19 | Victory Park Capital |
Total | 66 |
Incidents and accidents
[edit]- On February 12, 2009, Colgan Air Flight 3407 operating on behalf of Continental Connection crashed into a house on Long Road in Clarence Center, New York while on approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport; 50 people, including one on the ground, were killed according to New York State Police.[2]
- On September 7, 2011, Colgan Air Flight 3222, with 23 passengers en route from Houston, TX to Lake Charles, LA landed at Southland Field, which was not their scheduled destination. The crew was subsequently relieved of duty.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ http://www.departedflights.com, Feb. 15, 1985 & Dec. 15, 1989 Official Airline Guide editions, Houston Intercontinental flight schedules
- ^ Wald, Matthew (2009-02-13). "Commuter Plane With 48 Aboard Crashes in Buffalo". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
- ^ "Flight Crew Relieved From Duty Following Landing at Wrong Airport". Fox News. September 15, 2011.