United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) today announced that Continental Airlines will begin nonstop flights between its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (PLS), on Feb. 18, 2011, subject to government approval.  Providenciales will be Continental’s 26th Caribbean destination.Initially, flights will operate four times a week, on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, converting to daily service on March 6, 2011.We are pleased to offer convenient access to Providenciales, a world-class get-away and an exciting new addition to the list of Caribbean destinations served by Continental and United,said John Slater, United Airlines vice president of sales. “Our merger allows us to offer new flights to new destinations as we begin to efficiently utilize the combined fleet of both carriers.The approximately three-and-a-half-hour flight (CO 610) will depart Newark at 9:35 a.m., arriving in Providenciales at 1:10 p.m. The return flight (CO 615) will depart Providenciales at 2:05 p.m., arriving in Newark at 5:45 p.m.  Continental will utilize a Boeing 737-800 for the new service, with seating for 160 passengers (16 in first class and 144 in economy).The new service complements the combined airlines’ services to other top Caribbean leisure destinations like Aruba, Punta Cana, and Nassau. A popular vacation destination, Providenciales (also called Provo) is the most well known of the Turks and Caicos Islands. While geographically part of the Bahamas chain of islands, Turks and Caicos Islands is a separate country consisting of 40 different islands and cays. Providenciales features the 12-mile white-sand Grace Bay Beach, ranked Best Beach by Conde Nast magazine and by the World Travel Awards for several years.  Visitors also can enjoy the island’s coral reef; water sports such as diving, snorkeling and fishing; golf; a marine park; the world’s first conch farm; and luxury hotels, villas and spas. Providenciales’ official language is English, and its currency is the U.S. dollar.

About Continental Airlines

Continental Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL). Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,400 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 142 domestic and 131 international destinations. Continental is a member of Star Alliance, which overall offers more than 21,200 daily flights to 1,172 airports in 181 countries through its 28 member airlines. Continental has hubs serving Cleveland, Guam, Houston and New York, and together with its regional partners, carries approximately 63 million passengers per year.United Continental Holdings, Inc. became the holding company for both United and Continental upon close of the merger transaction. The two airlines will operate separately as they begin to integrate key customer services, marketing activities and airport processes.  For more company information, go to continental.com and follow on Twitter and Facebook.