Continental Connection

Continental Connection
Founded	1986
Ceased operations	March 3, 2012; (merged into United Express)
Hubs	Cleveland; Denver–Stapleton (1986–1995); Houston–Intercontinental; Newark;
Frequent-flyer program	OnePass
Alliance	SkyTeam (affiliate; 2004–2009); Star Alliance (affiliate; 2009–2012); Wings Alliance (affiliate);
Parent company	Continental Airlines (1986–2010); United Airlines (2010–2012);
Headquarters	Houston, Texas, U.S.

Continental Connection was the brand name under which several commuter airline carriers and their holding companies operated services marketed exclusively by Continental Airlines. As such, all Continental Connection banner carrier services were operated primarily with turboprop aircraft in contrast to Continental Express, whose flights were operated by Continental's regional jet partners, ExpressJet and Chautauqua Airlines. Continental Connection operations were merged into Continental Express in 2012.

According to the Official Airline Guide, earlier Continental Express flights, such as those operated by Royale Airlines followed by Britt Airways from the Continental hub at Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH), were operated with such turboprop aircraft as the ATR 42, Embraer EMB 110, Embraer EMB 120, and Grumman Gulfstream I during the 1980s.^[1]

All flights operated by Continental Connection carriers were given full OnePass frequent-flyer credit, as if they were mainline Continental flights.

The "Continental Connection" name was discontinued and the operation was renamed United Express following the merger of Continental Airlines with United Airlines in 2010.

Operators and fleet

Continental Connection fleet at dissolution
Airline	IATA Service	ICAO Code	Callsign	Aircraft	In fleet	Passengers	Parent
Cape Air	9K	KAP	Cair	ATR 42	2	46	Hyannis Air Service, Inc.
Colgan Air	9L	CJC	Colgan	Bombardier Q400	16	74	Pinnacle Airlines Corp.
Colgan Air	9L	CJC	Colgan	Saab 340	11	34	Pinnacle Airlines Corp.
CommutAir	C5	UCA	CommutAir	Bombardier Q200	16	37	Champlain Enterprises, Inc.
Silver Airways	3M	SIL	Silver Wings	Beechcraft 1900D	21	19	Victory Park Capital
				Total	66

On February 12, 2009, Colgan Air Flight 3407 operating on behalf of Continental Connection crashed into a house on Long Road in Clarence Center, New York while on approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport; 50 people, including one on the ground, were killed according to New York State Police.^[2]
On September 7, 2011, Colgan Air Flight 3222, with 23 passengers en route from Houston, TX to Lake Charles, LA landed at Southland Field, which was not their scheduled destination. The crew was subsequently relieved of duty.^[3]

^ http://www.departedflights.com, Feb. 15, 1985 & Dec. 15, 1989 Official Airline Guide editions, Houston Intercontinental flight schedules
^ Wald, Matthew (2009-02-13). "Commuter Plane With 48 Aboard Crashes in Buffalo". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
^ "Flight Crew Relieved From Duty Following Landing at Wrong Airport". Fox News. September 15, 2011.