Continental Airlines will launch nonstop flights between Newark Liberty International Airportand Cairo beginning May 18, 2011, subject to government approval. The largest city in Africa and the Middle East will be the 72nd international destination that Continental serves from its New York hub at Newark Liberty and the 30th city in Continental's transatlantic route network.
Cairo is the third new international destination Continental has announced since May— the airline plans to begin daily service from its Houston hub to Lagos, Nigeria, beginning November 10, 2011, and service to Auckland, New Zealand, beginning November 16, 2011, subject to government approval. The success of the Newark-Cairo route will be enhanced by the additional traffic flows through Newark that are expected to result from Continental's merger with United Airlines.
During the summer, flights will depart Newark at 5:30 p.m. and arrive in Cairo at 10:55 a.m. the next day. Return flights depart Egypt at 12:55 p.m. and land in the New York area at 6:05 p.m. the same day. During the winter, service leaves Newark at 5:30 p.m. and lands in Egypt at 10:50 a.m. the next day. Return flights for winter leave Cairo at 12:50 p.m. and arrive in the U.S. at 6:15 p.m. the next day.
Cairo is home to Egyptair, one of the 28 carriers, including Continental, that are members of Star Alliance. Egyptair and its regional airline partners offer service to 41 destinations in Egypt, Africa and the Middle East, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Damascus, Istanbul, Aswan, Jeddah and Johannesburg.
Continental will operate the approximately 5,600-mile flight with a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, seating 50 customers in BusinessFirst with flat-bed seats and 226 customers in Economy Class. Flying time eastbound will be approximately 10 hours, 25 minutes, and westbound will be approximately 12 hours, 10 minutes. Continental plans to operate the route on a daily basis during peak summer travel season, with five- and four-times-weekly service during certain periods in the first year of operation.
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