Continental Connection
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Ceased operations | March 3, 2012 (merged with United Express) |
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Hubs | |
Frequent-flyer program | OnePass |
Alliance |
SkyTeam (affiliate; 2004-2009) Star Alliance (affiliate; 2009-2012) |
Fleet size | 83 |
Headquarters | Houston, Texas |
Website | http://www.continental.com/ |


Continental Connection was a brand name under which several commuter airline carriers and their holding companies operated services marketed exclusively by Continental Airlines. As such all Continental Connection banner carrier services were provided using piston-engine or turboprop aircraft, in contrast to Continental Express, whose flights were operated by Continental's regional jet partners, ExpressJet Airlines and Chautauqua Airlines.
All flights on Continental Connection are given full OnePass frequent flyer credit, as if they were mainline Continental flights.
The "Continental Connection" name was discontinued and the operation was renamed United Express following the merger of Continental Airlines with United Airlines.
Operators
Airline | IATA code | ICAO code | Call sign | Aircraft operated | Parent |
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Cape Air | 9K | KAP | Cair | ATR 42 | Hyannis Air Service, Inc. |
Colgan Air | 9L | CJC | Colgan | Bombardier Q400 Saab 340 |
Republic Airways Holdings |
CommutAir | C5 | UCA | CommutAir | Bombardier Q200 Bombardier Q300 |
Champlain Enterprises, Inc. |
Silver Airways (Gulfstream International Airlines) | 3M | SIL | Silver Wings | Beechcraft 1900D | Victory Park Capital |
GP Express Airlines of Grand Island, Nebraska, also operated as a Continental Connection Carrier at Denver and Kansas City from 1994 through 1996. During this time Continental Airlines had dissolved its hub operation at Denver. The carrier operated Beechcraft 1900C and Beechcraft 99 aircraft. CommutAir operated a sizeable hub at Albany, New York during the 2000s even though Continental Airlines did not have any mainline presence at the city.
In addition, Air New Orleans operated as a Continental Express air carrier with Beechcraft C99 and British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31 propjets primarily with connecting service into New Orleans airport and also to destinations in Florida.
Fleet
Aircraft | Total | Passengers | Routes | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bombardier Dash 8 Q200 | 16 | 37 | All leased Operated by CommutAir | |
Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 | 5 | 50 | Operated by CommutAir | |
Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 | 29 | 74 | Operated by Colgan Air | |
Saab 340B | 10 | 34 | Operated by Colgan Air | |
ATR 42 | 2 | 46 | Operated by Cape Air | |
Beechcraft 1900D Airliner | 21 | 19 | Operated by Silver Airways | |
Total | 83 |
Incidents and accidents
- On February 12, 2009, Colgan Air Flight 3407 operating on behalf of Continental Connection crashed into a house on Long Road in Clarence Center, New York while on approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport; 50 people, including one on the ground, were killed according to New York State Police.[1]
- On September 7, 2011, Colgan Air Flight 3222, with 23 passengers en route from Houston, TX to Lake Charles, LA landed at Southland Field, which was not their scheduled destination. The crew was subsequently relieved of duty.[2]
References
- ↑ Wald, Matthew (2009-02-13). "Commuter Plane With 48 Aboard Crashes in Buffalo". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
- ↑ "Flight Crew Relieved From Duty Following Landing at Wrong Airport". Fox News. September 15, 2011.
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