Continental Lite

Continental Lite

IATA ICAO Callsign
Founded	1993
Ceased operations	1995
Destinations
Parent company	Continental Airlines
Headquarters

Continental Lite was a short lived "airline within an airline" brand of Continental Airlines established in 1993. The airline folded in 1995 after losing was has been reported in the press as between $140 million^[1] or (US) $300 million.^[2]

It was developed by Texas Air and Frank Lorenzo to counter the rise of low-cost start up carriers. This despite the fact that Continental had some of the lowest costs in the airline industry due to many of the trade labor unions agreements being tossed out during Lorenzo's reign with Continental through Chapter 11 bankruptcy.^[3]

The airline was named CALite from Fall 1993 and later renamed.^[4]

Continental Lite operated with a dedicated fleet of 100 McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 and Boeing 737-200 aircraft, each repainted with the 'Lite' livery and stripped of its first class cabin. This service was based primarily at Continental's existing hub in Cleveland as well as a new hub established in Piedmont Triad International Airport.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/14/business/company-reports-continental-is-dropping-lite-service.html
2. ^ http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985949-4,00.html
3. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1153/is_n10_v118/ai_17949202/
4. ^ Cooney, Peter. "Low Fares, No-Frills At Continental Lite." Chicago Sun-Times. July 26, 1994. Retrieved on February 22, 2009.