Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) has inked a lucrative $258 million, five-year mail contract with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), effective Sept. 30, 2006.
HOUSTON – The contract includes Priority, First Class and Express mail products within the United States and Puerto Rico. Under the new contract, Continental will be the second-largest passenger airline carrying mail.
„The new contract is about performance,“ said Rick Banks, Continental’s managing director of postal affairs. „As few as 30 minutes count, and we are excited to see that our people and scanning systems have met the mark. In fact, we are celebrating our 72nd anniversary of high-quality, uninterrupted service for USPS. It is our largest cargo customer, and the new contract is icing on the cake.“
Continental’s homegrown „3 Scan“ mail technology system provides the needed tracking and reporting muscle to meet the stringent benchmarks of the new contract.
„Quality is woven in the fabric here, so we don’t have to change clothes to meet with the Postal Service,“ said Jack Boisen, vice president of Continental’s cargo division. „We have made substantial investments in our postal facilities, employees and technology. It’s rewarding to extend our great partnership for five more years.“
United, Delta and Southwest did not participate in or were not awarded contracts.
Continental Airlines is the world’s fifth-largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 3,200 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 154 domestic and 138 international destinations. More than 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines. With more than 43,000 employees, Continental has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and together with Continental Express, carries approximately 61 million passengers per year. Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture.
In 2006, Continental Airlines won its sixth J.D. Power and Associates award since 1996. The carrier received the highest rank in customer satisfaction among network carriers in North America in the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Airline Satisfaction Index Survey(SM). For the third consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 Most Admired Global Airline on its 2006 list of Most Admired Global Companies. Continental was also named the No. 1 airline on the publication’s 2006 America’s Most Admired airline industry list. Additionally, Continental again won major awards at the OAG Airline of the Year Awards including „Best Airline Based in North America“ for the third year in a row, and „Best Executive/Business Class“ for the fourth consecutive year. For more company information, visit continental.com.
SOURCE Continental Airlines