Continental Airlines

Continental Airlines

IATA ICAO Callsign CO COA CONTINENTAL
Founded	May 1934 (1934-05) (as Varney Speed Lines)
Commenced operations	July 8, 1937 (1937-07-08)[1]
Ceased operations	March 3, 2012 (2012-03-03) (merged into United Airlines)[2]
AOC #	CALA014A[3]
Hubs	Cleveland (1992–2012) Denver–Stapleton (1972–1995) El Paso (1934–1978) Guam (1968–2012) Houston–Intercontinental (1982–2012) Los Angeles (1962–1983) Newark (1987–2012) Washington–Dulles (1987–1989)
Frequent-flyer program	OnePass
Alliance	SkyTeam (2004–2009) Star Alliance (2009–2012) Wings Alliance
Subsidiaries	Chelsea Food Services Continental Air Services, Inc (1965–1975) Continental Connection (1986–2012) Continental Express (1986–2012) Continental Lite (1993–1995) Continental Micronesia (1968–2010)
Parent company	Texas Air Corporation (1981–1991) United Continental Holdings (2010–2012)
Traded as	NYSE: CAL
Headquarters	El Paso, Texas (1934–1937) Denver, Colorado (1937–1963) Los Angeles, California (1963–1982) Houston, Texas (1982–2012)
Key people	Robert Six Frank Lorenzo Jeff Smisek Gordon Bethune Larry Kellner
Founders	Walter Varney Louis Mueller

Continental Airlines (simply known as Continental) was a major airline in the United States that operated from 1934 until its merger with United Airlines in 2012. It had ownership interests and brand partnerships with several carriers.

Continental started out as one of the smaller carriers in the United States, known for its limited operations under the regulated era that provided very fine, almost fancy, service against the larger majors in important point-to-point markets, the largest of which was Chicago/Los Angeles. However, deregulation in 1978 changed the competitive landscape and realities, as noted by Smithsonian Airline Historian R. E. G. Davies, "Unfortunately, the policies that had been successful for more than forty years under (Robert) Six's cavalier style of management were suddenly laid bare as the cold winds of airline deregulation changed all the rules—specifically, the balance between revenues and expenditures."^[4]

In 1981, Texas International Airlines acquired a controlling interest in Continental. The companies were merged in 1982, moved to Houston, and grew into one of the country's largest carriers despite facing financial and labor issues, eventually becoming one of the more successful airlines in the United States.

Continental and United Airlines merged in an $8.5 billion all-stock merger of equals on October 1, 2010. Continental's shareholders received 1.05 per share in United stock for each Continental share they owned. Upon completion of the acquisition, UAL Corporation changed their name to United Continental Holdings.^[2] During the integration period, each airline ran a separate operation under the direction of a combined leadership team, based in Chicago.^[5] The integration was completed on March 3, 2012. Although the merged airline retained the United name, it uses Continental's operating certificate and livery. On June 27, 2019, United changed its parent company name from United Continental Holdings to United Airlines Holdings.^[6]