BIG APPLE AND BEYOND FOR BRISTOL TRAVELLERS

Orlando and Chicago top Continental Airlines’ onward destinations table

Travellers flying from Bristol International on Continental Airlines’ transatlantic service to New York are taking advantage of convenient onward connections to visit cities across North America, with Chicago replacing Houston as the top business destination in 2009, and Orlando remaining the most popular with leisure passengers. The flight will celebrate its fifth anniversary in May. Around 50 per cent of passengers boarding at Bristol have a final destination beyond the Big Apple, using Continental’s extensive network of services from its New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport, to cities across the USA, Canada and Latin America. Shaun Browne, Aviation Director at Bristol International Airport, said: “Continental’s service doesn’t just make New York easily accessible from the South West and Wales, it puts hundreds of destinations across North and South America within reach – without the hassle of having to travel miles by road or rail to airports outside the region.” Top five onward destinations for BusinessFirst passengers – 2009 1. Chicago 2. Atlanta 3. Indianapolis 4. Houston 5. Orlando Top five onward destinations for Economy passengers – 2009 1. Orlando 2. Las Vegas 3. Boston 4. San Francisco 5. Los Angeles Flights from Bristol to New York start from £309 return, including taxes and charges (subject to availability at the time of booking), with economy fares to Orlando from £414 return, and Chicago from £483 return. In October 2009, Continental joined Star Alliance, the largest and most comprehensive airline alliance in the world. The other Star Alliance members are Adria Airways (Slovenia), Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA (Japan), Asiana Airlines (South Korea), Austrian, Blue1 (Finland), bmi (United Kingdom), Brussels Airlines (Belgium), Croatia Airlines, EGYPTAIR, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa (Germany), Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair (Spain), SWISS, TAP Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways. Aegean Airlines, Air India and TAM have been announced as future members. Overall, the Star Alliance network offers more than 19,700 daily flights to 1,077 destinations in 175 countries. Continental customers benefit from an expanded network of destinations, simplified air travel, more choice of connections, access to more airport lounges and an even more valuable frequent flyer programme. Ends For further information please contact: James Gore, 01275 475447 / 07717 896315 Jacqui Mills, 01275 473615 / 07712 792915