Continental flies veterans to Iwo Jima today

HAGATNA, Guam—Continental Airlines will operate two charter flights bound for Iwo Jima, Japan, today, March 8. The tour will commemorate the 61st anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Fifty-eight World War II veterans will be among the group of 216 passengers, which will include the Navajo Code Talkers, historians, educators and veterans’ family members.

While in the Pacific, the group also visited historical points of interest in Guam, Saipan, Tinian, and the Republic of Palau, where many of these veterans served during the war in the Pacific.

Coordinated by the Military Historical Tours (www.miltours.com) in Alexandria, VA, the group will travel from throughout the United States to Guam and will board two Continental flights today to Iwo Jima to remember the sacrifices of American servicemen and Japanese imperial soldiers who paid the ultimate price in the Pacific theater during the second World War.

This is the eleventh time that the veterans have traveled to Iwo Jima on Continental. “What an honor to once again be a part of this very special reunion, as we remember and appreciate the sacrifices these veterans made in the name of freedom,” said Continental Micronesia president and chief executive officer Mark Erwin.

Continental Micronesia is headquartered in Guam and operates a Pacific hub from the A.B. Won Pat Guam International Airport. A wholly owned subsidiary of Continental Airlines, Continental Micronesia offers more than 290 departures each week between 22 cities throughout the Pacific Rim, the Micronesian Islands and Hawaii with a fleet of 13 next generation Boeing 737 narrowbody and 767 widebody aircraft. In addition, Continental Micronesia and its code share partner, Cape Air, operate commuter service between Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands.

Continental Airlines is the world’s sixth-largest airline. Continental, together with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 3,100 daily departures throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia, serving 151 domestic and 133 international destinations, more than any other carrier in the world.

More than 400 additional points are served via SkyTeam alliance airlines, which include Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Air Lines, KLM, Korean Air and Northwest Airlines.

With 42,000 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.

Continental Airlines was again rated the top airline on Fortune magazine’s annual airline industry list of Most Admired Global Companies. This is the third year that Continental has topped that list.

Last week, Fortune also announced that Continental was ranked the most admired airline on Fortune’s annual America’s Most Admired airline industry list. (PR)