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Continental Airlines and United Airlines announced that Continental will move its Tokyo operations to the South Wing of Terminal 1 at Narita International Airport, effective Nov. 1, with Continental flights departing and arriving at the terminal’s south gates and the check-in counter relocating to the South Wing main lobby.
The relocation will enable customers to connect seamlessly at Narita between Continental’s five daily transpacific and Micronesia flights and United’s 11 daily transpacific and intra-Asia flights departing from Tokyo. In addition, when Continental joins Star Alliance at the end of October, the relocation will facilitate connections with ANA and other Star Alliance member airlines, including Air China, Asiana Airlines, Singapore Airlines and THAI, all of which operate from the South Wing of Terminal 1. Star Alliance airlines offer a total of 77 daily departures from Narita.
Continental customers in Tokyo will receive the same airport services currently offered for all of Continental’s long-haul international flights including designated OnePass Elite and BusinessFirst check-in and priority baggage handling and BusinessFirst concierge service.
Continental Presidents Club members and BusinessFirst customers will have access to United’s Red Carpet Club located in Airside Satellite 3, as well as to two lounges operated by ANA.
“This move will occur right after we join Star Alliance and will give our customers better connections to more destinations throughout Asia with United and other Star Alliance member airlines,” said Mark Erwin, Continental’s senior vice president of corporate development and alliances.
“Continental’s move to the South Wing of Terminal 1 at Narita will give United’s customers in Asia additional options for travel throughout Asia and Micronesia, and more convenient service to New York, Houston, the southern U.S. and Latin America,” said Mark Schwab, United’s senior vice president of alliances, international and regulatory affairs.
Continental’s move in Tokyo follows a similar aligning of customer service and ground operations at Beijing International Airport and Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.