Continental Connection

Continental Express

Ceased operations	March 3, 2012 (merged with United Express)
Hubs	Cleveland Hopkins International Airport George Bush Intercontinental Airport Newark Liberty International Airport
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/

Beechcraft 1900

CommutAir Beechcraft 1900

File:BeechInterior.jpg

Facing forward in the passenger cabin of a CommutAir Beechcraft 1900D displaying the integral and remote field operationally friendly, airstair built into the forward exit of this type of airplane

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
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.

Fleet

Continental Connection 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.
• 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.