United Resumes Regular Flight to Sendai, Japan

United Continental Holdings reports that Continental Airlines will resume regular service between Guam and Sendai, Japan, subject to government approval, with twice-weekly flights beginning Oct. 2. The new flights mark the first resumption of regular service by a foreign airline at Sendai Airport since the facility reopened on April 13. The airport was temporarily closed after the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11 and is another step toward Japan’s recovery from the earthquake and tsunami.

"I am very happy to announce that we will be resuming regular Guam-Sendai flights, which we first began offering 21 years ago," said Jim Mueller, United's vice president Asia/Pacific. "I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to everyone who worked together with us under such trying circumstances to restore flight operations. We look forward to the long-term continuation of regular flight service between Guam and Sendai."

Today in Sendai, Mueller presented a gift of 1,000 individually hand-folded paper cranes on behalf of both Continental Airlines and United Airlines employees, to symbolize their heartfelt wishes for an expeditious recovery of the earthquake and tsunami-stricken areas, including Sendai.

Since the earthquake and tsunami, United Continental Holdings has worked to support the victims of the disaster in partnership with the American Red Cross in an effort that includes both monetary contributions and donations of frequent flyer miles. As of today, cash donations from more than 23,000 customers and employees exceed $2.5 million, and loyalty program members have donated more than 63 million miles.

United Airlines and Continental Airlines together operate 169 weekly flights to nine destinations in Japan.

Visit www.continental.com.