Business First Issue2 Vol5 CH5:Layout 1 23/10/2009 15:06 Page 28
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BF interview
Continental: a new star in
the alliance
Gavin Walker speaks with Continental Airlines Senior Director UK and Ireland”,
Bob Schumacher about the airline’s fifth anniversary serving Northern Ireland,
the benefits of their joining the Star Alliance and the imminent arrival of flat
beds in Business Class
I
n January of this year, “This is a very exciting addition to our service and allows us to
Continental Airlines free-up our staff to come from behind the check-in desks and
demonstrated its interact directly with our passengers,” he said. Perhaps not
commitment to fuel surprisingly – given our training by Ryanair – Bob said that the
efficiency , take-up of the online check-in offering has been highest in the
environmental Irish market.
responsibility and the “We are already seeing over 30 per cent of our ex-Belfast
future sustainability of passengers using this new service and we expect that to increase
commercial aviation quickly over the coming months. Tthe take-up of the online
when it completed the check-in offering at Belfast has been amongst the highest in
first biofuel Europe,” Bob said, adding that the airline would continue to
demonstration flight by provide the traditional method of check-in to those passengers
a U.S. carrier and the first for whom that is a preference.
by any airline in the
world to use a biofuel
derived in part from
So now what
algae.The biofuels flights
Having upgraded the product on the ground, Continental is
was 25 per cent
continuing to do so in the air. Continental employs Boeing 757
powered by biofuels
aircraft on its Belfast – New York route and every passenger
(one engine on a 50 per
already enjoys audio visual on demand. With a choice of over 50
cent blend) and the flight established Continental as one of the
channels of films, music and even games to choose from, there is
world’s pioneering airlines in respect to the potential use of
no excuse for becoming bored during the six hour flight.
biofuel technology.
But perhaps the most exciting new service being introduced
It was also only one of a number of exciting projects in both
throughout the Continental fleet is the replacement of
service and product development which Continental is
BusinessFirst (business class) seating with state-of-the-art flat-
implementing and which will ensure the long-term viability of
beds. Developed by B/E Aerospace – which has its main
routes such as the Belfast to New York which enjoys its
development and manufacturing centre of excellence at Kilkeel
fifth anniversary in 2010.
“We are delighted with the ongoing success of the
Belfast route which has just enjoyed a very successful
summer season,” senior director UK and Ireland told
Business First. “And we look forward to continue rolling
out new services that will make the passenger experience
even more enjoyable.”
Recent travellers from the International Airport will have
experienced the £10 million transformation that is taking
place throughout the terminal and another of
Continental’s innovations – the stand-alone self-service
kiosks – are adding to the speed of check-in and quality of
service.
But while Bob is pleased with the success of these kiosks
– Continental were the first to introduce them to their
domestic US market – he is even more enthusiastic about
the airline’s online check-in facility.
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