Continental Receives Final DOT Approval to Join Alliance With United, Star Carriers

Continental Receives Final DOT Approval to Join Antitrust Immunized Alliance With United, Star Carriers Posted July 10, 2009 The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today approved the application for Continental Airlines to join the existing antitrust immunized alliance including United and eight other Star Alliance member carriers. "Today's decision from the Department of Transportation facilitates the development of a competitive partnership that is good for consumers, our employees and the communities we serve," said Glenn Tilton, chairman, president and CEO. "United, Continental and the Star Alliance carriers will be able to compete more effectively in an increasingly global air travel market, while providing our respective customers with improved access to more of the world and creating opportunities for our employees." "We are pleased to receive final approval from the Department of Transportation," said Larry Kellner, Continental's chairman and CEO. "Continental is working to provide a seamless transition for its customers from the SkyTeam alliance to Star Alliance this fall. The DOT decision greatly benefits our customers, employees and shareholders. It ensures global competition with other antitrust immunized alliances while encouraging the retention and growth of open skies between the U.S. and other nations." With Continental, we expressed our appreciation to the numerous community and civic parties whose enthusiastic support has been critical to our efforts to secure this approval. We also thank our employees, our millions of customers and the travel professionals, congressional, state and local government representatives and business partners who urged timely approval of the application. We also expressed our appreciation for the efforts of DOT Secretary Ray LaHood and his staff, who have worked diligently to protect the needs of consumers, communities and airline employees by finalizing its order with modest adjustments, while recognizing the issues facing the industry. In addition to United, the eight Star Alliance members who have been granted DOT approval for antitrust immunity are Air Canada, Austrian, bmi, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), SWISS and TAP Air Portugal.