The Non-Merger Merger

With oil spiraling towards $150, Continental a found the 4th way to survive the fuel crisis. In conjunction with the retirement of the Classic 737s, the airline is joining up with Star Alliance and apparently abandoning Sky Team and Delta-Northwest in the process. It’s another way to cut capacity by sharing revenue on overlapping routes. It’s the non-merger merger.

What’s the best way to operate a profitable route? Let someone else fly it.

Larry Kellner was quite clear in his desire to keep Continental on its own. Should be very interesting to see how this one plays out.


Continental Airlines and United Airlines Announce Comprehensive Plan
for Global Cooperation; Continental Plans to Join Star Alliance

CHICAGO, June 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Continental Airlines (NYSE:CAL) and United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAUA) today announced a framework agreement to cooperate extensively, linking their networks and services worldwide to the benefit of customers, and creating revenue opportunities and cost savings and other efficiencies. In addition, Continental plans to join United in the Star Alliance, the most comprehensive airline alliance
in the world.

This post was originally published to the internet between 2007 and 2012. Links, images, and embedded media from that era may no longer function as intended.

This post originally appeared at Flightglobal.com from 2007 to 2012.