You are here: Home »  News » 

Welcome Guest, sign in or register here.


News » 

Continental to complete B777 lie-flat roll out by September

Originally published on www.businesstraveller.asia 16/02/2010 - Filed under: News »

  • Print
  • Send

Continental Airlines isn’t apologetic about rolling out fully-flat seats in its BusinessFirst cabin after competitors Delta – the first US airline to do so – and United.

“It took us about three years (to produce results) – we wanted to get the product right,” Walter B Dias, Continental’s managing director, Greater China and Southeast Asia, told Business Traveller.  “As we had a lot of customers, who were extremely loyal to our BusinessFirst service, we also had to be careful not to fix what wasn’t broken.”

The new seats are being successively installed on the carrier’s 22 Boeing B777-200ERs, the aircraft deployed on trans-Pacific services such as Newark-Hongkong, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo and New Delhi and trans-Atlantic services such as New York-London in June. Retrofitting for the aircraft used on the trans-Pacific flights, conducted in Hongkong by Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co (HAECO), is expected to be completed by September of this year.

The lie flats will also go onboard Continental’s main workhorse on US domestic routes, the B757 as well as the B787 Dreamliner. Continental is the futuristic aircraft’s second launch customer after ANA.

Featuring a herringbone layout (although not exactly to the specifications of Virgin Atlantic or Air New Zealand in that the footrest fits into a space next to the seat in front of it) innovations include an area dubbed the “Tower of Power”, placed just above the passenger’s shoulder that consolidates laptop power and headset and USB plugs. This does away with having to search for these outlets, which customers told Continental was inconvenient especially in a dimly lit cabin, said Continental’s Asian managing director Dias. A laptop-size space under the TV monitor and iPod connectivity are also part of the seat.

It’s been a busy past several months for Continental, having bolted Skyteam for Star Alliance in October of last year. The move, said Dias, has opened the world to the Continental customer, citing the network of Air China as well as those of other airline partners. In turn, Continental offers connections to the emerging economies of South America.

And after a two-year hiatus, the airline resumes air services between Hongkong and Guam with twice-weekly flights starting from April 2. The destination, said Dias, will appeal to Hongkong residents for its attractions for the wedding, honeymoon and family travel markets. Eligible holders of a Hongkong SAR passport or BNO passport do not need visas to enter the US territory.

For more on Continental, visit http://www.continental.com/

Margie T Logarta

Read more about...

Bookmark with:

COMMENTS » 

gordo66 - 16/02/2010 17:13

When will the aircraft that has the new seats will start to operate on a regular basis to TLV?

tjam7ak - 18/02/2010 04:07

United was the first airline to roll out flat business class seats- not Delta. Get your facts straight.

ADD A COMMENT » 

Login details

To add a comment, please enter your email address and password.

Keep me signed in until I sign out

New users

If you are not already registered with us, please enter your email address and chosen password above, and also complete the details below. Your screen name will be displayed on our website.

Your message

Security code

captcha

MORE IN NEWS » 

Corinthia Hotel London opens luxury penthouses

Corinthia Hotel London opens luxury penthouses 09/02/2012

The seven double-storey themed penthouses combine traditional grandeur with modern amenities, and terraces provide striking views of central London — full story »


JW Marriott Marquis Dubai to be world’s tallest hotel

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai to be world’s tallest hotel 09/02/2012

The brand’s Dubai property scheduled to open later this year will be 1,164-feet — full story »


Etihad reports net profit of $14 million

Etihad reports net profit of $14 million 09/02/2012

Airline comfortably beats its break even target and records a 36% jump in revenues to $4.1 billion — full story »



More »





TOP SECTIONS »

Cellars in the Sky Awards 2011 announced

Cellars in the Sky Awards 2011  announced

Business Traveller's airline wine awards have been revealed, with Qantas triumphing in six categories
Read more »

Win a stay at the refurbished Thistle Euston

Win a stay at the refurbished Thistle Euston

This month we're giving away a stay at the newly revamped Thistle Euston, including breakfast and dinner for two at the hotel's Brasserie 43 restaurant
Read more »

Route of the month

Route of the month

Alex McWhirter looks at how new services can benefit business traveller. This month: travel options from London to Edinburgh
Read more »