Continental Airlines Boeing 737-924 ER WL N75436 (msn 33531) FLL (1947 “Blue Skyway” Retrojet) (Bruce Drum), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.
Continental Airlines (Houston) will reach the end of a very colorful history since July 15, 1934 this week. On November 30, 2011 at 1200Z (GMT) (0600 CST) the Continental Airlines name will slip into aviation history. On this date, United Airlines and Continental will complete their merger when a single operating certificate (SOC) will become a reality. Ironically, due to operational reasons, the CO certificate (AOC) will survive operating as United Airlines. The United AOC is the certificate being retired. All flights will use the “United” call sign and UA/UAL codes after this date. The CO 1991 color scheme will also survive as the “new” livery of United Airlines.
The final COA flight to land is planned to be flight COA 86 Shanghai (Pudong) (PVG)-Newark (EWR) on November 30. A Tampa (TPA)-Newark (EWR) flight COA 1612 is due to depart at 0659 (EST) (1159Z) on November 30 and will be the final dispatched COA flight if not delayed.
CLICK HERE for the history of Continental Air Lines and Continental Airlines (company website)
Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Please click on the photo for information on the “Blue Skyway” retrojet.
Editorial Note: As a special salute to CO, we will be adding many new and historical photos this week to our growing AG library, specifically the CO Slide Show.
CLICK HERE for the Continental Slide Show (check back often this week).
Did my last flight for “Continental”, as 153 STR-EWR yesterday…will miss the Company new callsign, but hoping the future will bring prosperity and success to the new “United”.
Thank you Beau. The CO legacy will survive in two ways – first the livery continues as the “new” UA livery. Secondly, officially it is the CO AOC that will continue as the new United. Given all of the turmoil, reorganization and later success in the past, the CO story is quite a success story. It will be missed.
Bruce