Continental Airlines to Join Star Alliance on Oct. 27, 2009

HOUSTON, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL)
has announced that it plans to join Star Alliance on Oct. 27, 2009. As
previously announced, Continental will end its participation in SkyTeam after
its last scheduled flight on Oct. 24, 2009.

Continental's transition from SkyTeam to Star Alliance is a strategic change,
originally announced in June 2008, that will enhance travel options and
competition. Continental's network will have a distinct fit in Star Alliance,
with Continental's New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport
playing a particularly important role for Star Alliance travelers.

Continental's OnePass members do not need to make any changes to their OnePass
accounts and will continue to utilize their mileage as normal. Mileage
balances will not be affected by the transition.

Through Oct. 24, 2009, OnePass members can continue to earn and redeem miles
and make reward reservations on SkyTeam partners.

When the transition to Star Alliance occurs on Oct. 27, 2009, OnePass members
will begin earning base miles and Elite Qualification Miles/Points and be able
to redeem miles on Star Alliance airlines.

Continental provides alliance updates on its web site at:
continental.com/alliancenews

About Star Alliance
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global
airline alliance to offer customers worldwide reach and a smooth travel
experience. Star Alliance received the Air Transport World Market Leadership
Award in 2008 and was voted Best Airline Alliance by Business Traveller
Magazine in 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008 and by Skytrax in 2003, 2005, 2007 and
2009. The members are Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana
Airlines, Austrian, bmi, EGYPTAIR, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa,
Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African
Airways, Spanair, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI, United and US
Airways. Regional member carriers Adria Airways (Slovenia), Blue1 (Finland)
and Croatia Airlines enhance the global network. Aegean Airlines, Air India,
Brussels Airlines, Continental Airlines and TAM have been announced as future
members. Overall, the Star Alliance network offers 17,000 daily flights to 916
destinations in 160 countries.

SOURCE Continental Airlines

Continental Airlines Corporate Communications, +1-713-324-5080,
corpcomm@coair.com