AIRLINES & AIRPORTS

Continental Airlines launches daily non-stop service between Athens and New York
19/01/2007
Continental Airlines will launch daily non-stop flights between Athens and New York/Newark effective June 8, 2007 (westbound), subject to government approval as the company said in a press conference held in Athens, Greece.
The new service will link the capital of Greece not only with New York but also – via Continental’s New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport – with more than 230 other cities throughout North, Central and South America, the Caribbean and beyond.
“We look forward to offering travelers from Greece something none of our competitors can match – award-winning, year-round service to New York’s only hub airport, with quick and easy same-airline, same-terminal onward connections to cities throughout the Americas,” said Jim Summerford, Continental’s Vice President – Europe, Middle East & India.
Continental`s Athens-New York/Newark flights will be operated with a Boeing 767-200ER aircraft. The frequency of the service will be reduced to five flights weekly during September/October and April/May and to three flights weekly during the period November-March to take account of the traditional seasonal reduction in demand.
Continental’s sales and marketing team in Greece will be headed by Avi Friedman, the airline’s Senior Director, Greece & Israel. Friedman has served as Continental’s Senior Director, Israel since the airline launched flights to Tel Aviv in 1999. He previously had a long and distinguished career in Israel’s travel industry.
Over the next few months, Continental will hire staff for its ground operations at Athens, as well as additional Sales staff to cover the country. The exact number of positions to be filled has yet to be finalised.