Continental Airlines to Start Nonstop Flights from Houston to Guatemala

Continental will offer twice-weekly service to Flores on Wednesdays and Saturdays, using the 50-seat Embraer EMB-145 Regional Jet. Flores is the primary destination for travelers visiting Tikal, the largest site of Mayan ruins in Central America.

The approximately three-hour, 20-min. flight will depart Houston´s Intercontinental Airport at 6:40 p.m. and arrive in Flores at 9:05 p.m. The return flight will leave Flores at 7:45 a.m., arriving in Houston at 12 noon.

Tikal, a top destination for tourists visiting archeological ruins, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dating from 700 B.C., Tikal served as the major Mayan trade center. The ruins, part of the 222-sq.-mi. Tikal National Park, are surrounded by lush jungle. Flores, 45 minutes from Tikal National Park, offers beautiful scenery, handicrafts, and a variety of outdoor adventure activities including horseback riding, wildlife tours, and nature trails.

With the addition of Tikal/Flores, Continental will offer nonstop service to 11 Central American cities -- more than any other U.S. airline.

Continental Airlines is the world´s sixth-largest airline with more than 3,000 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Continental serves 152 domestic and 122 international destinations -- more than any other airline in the world -- and nearly 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines. With 41,000 employees, the airline has hubs serving New York, Houston, Cleveland and Guam, and carries approximately 51 million passengers per year. In 2004, Continental earned awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture.