Continental Moves Ops at Narita to be Nearer Star Alliance Partners

Continental Airlines is moving its Tokyo operations to the South Wing of Terminal 1 at Narita International Airport on November 1.

The airline’s flights will depart and arrive at the terminal’s south gates and Continental’s check-in counter will relocate to the South Wing main lobby.

Continental says the relocation will enable its passengers to connect seamlessly at Narita between Continental’s five daily transpacific and Micronesia flights and United Airlines’ 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 All Nippon Airways (ANA) and other Star Alliance member airlines, including Air China, Asiana Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Thai International Airways. All of thse airlines operate from the South Wing of Terminal 1. Star Alliance airlines offer a total of 77 daily departures from Narita.

A Continental Airlines Boeing 777-200ER at a departure gate in Terminal C at Newark Liberty International Airport. Continental uses the entire terminal and is by far the largest operator at Newark in terms of aircraft movements and passenger numbers. Newark is Continental's biggest international hub, the airline operating flights to Asia, Europe and South America from the New York-area airport

Continental says its 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.

The carrier’s 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,” says Mark Erwin, Continental’s senior vice president of corporate development and alliances.

Continental’s move in Tokyo follows a similar aligning of its customer service and ground operations at Beijing International Airport and Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport, to facilitate connections with its soon-to-be-partner airlines in the Star Alliance, which Continental joins on October 27 after leaving the SkyTeam Alliance (led by Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM) on October 25.